West Bromwich Albion welcome Sheffield United to The Hawthorns in the concluding First Round tie of 2022-23 Carabao Cup.
West Brom are looking to avoid a second First Round exit in four seasons – having lost at this stage in 2019-20 season.
Sheffield Utd meanwhile are looking to avoid exiting at this stage for the first time since 2018-19 season.
Team News
Okay Yokuslu is set to start for West Brom after he made a substitute appearance in Monday’s 1-1 draw against Watford in the Championship.
Alex Palmer, Kyle Bartley and Alex Mowatt will also be chasing starts as manager, Steve Bruce looks to rotate his squad ahead of Sunday’s Championship trip to Blackburn.
Sheffield Utd could hand James McAtee his competitive debut after he was named as an unused substitute in Saturday’s Championship win over Millwall.
Adam Davies, Jack O’Connell, Jayden Bogle (all knee), Enda Stevens (calf), Chris Basham (hamstring), Tommy Doyle (thigh) and Oli McBurnie (foot) all remain absent.
Stat Attack
- West Brom won their only previous League Cup tie against Sheffield United, prevailing 2-1 at The Hawthorns in September 1973.
- Sheffield Utd lost their only previous away match against West Brom in the League Cup (L1).
- Both teams have scored in four of five previous meetings at The Hawthorns in all cup competitions, with Sheffield Utd failing to score in a 1-0 defeat in a Texaco Cup tie in September 1972.
- West Brom have drawn just one of their last six home ties in League Cup (W2, D1, L3), in which they drew 2-2 against Brentford in September 2020 but lost 5-4 on penalties.
- Only one of Sheffield Utd’s last nine League Cup ties have been played away from home – 1-1 draw at Burnley in September 2020 which ended in 5-4 loss on penalties.
Prediction
Having twice fought back for 1-1 draws in their opening two matches this season, West Brom have shown great fighting spirit but they need to sort out their early defensive issues, otherwise they will one day be punished with two early first-half goals.
Sheffield Utd meanwhile were simply clinical against Millwall with fantastic organisation to limit the Lions’ set-piece threats, which should give them huge confidence coming into this match because I can see them viewing this game as winnable given the Baggies’ form.
This match though will see plenty of rotation but I think West Brom have to score first otherwise Sheffield Utd could have the edge if they are clinical and defend like they did at the weekend, although a draw and penalties would likely be a fair bet of West Brom fight from behind again.
Prediction: WBA 1-2 Sheffield United
Result: WBA 1-0 Sheffield United
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