West Bromwich Albion entertain Black Country rivals, Wolves at The Hawthorns in a Fourth Round tie in 2023-24 FA Cup.
Victory would see West Brom reach the Last 16 for the first time in four seasons – having last done so in 2019-20 season.
Wolves meanwhile are chasing a second appearance in the Fifth Round for the second time in four seasons.
Team News
Adam Reach is ruled out for West Brom with an ankle injury suffered during their Championship defeat at Norwich.
Okay Yokuslu (leg) is set to be fit for selection but Daryl Dike (calf) won’t be risked in this game.
New loan signing, Callum Marshall is cup-tied after he featured in West Ham’s Third Round exit at Bristol City.
Semi Ajayi, Grady Diangana (both international duty), Jayson Molumby (foot), Matt Phillips (hamstring) and Josh Maja (ankle) remain ruled out.
Wolves could be without forward, Pablo Sarabia after he suffered a minor calf injury in their goalless draw at Brighton in the Premier League.
Rayan Ait-Nouri could feature following his early return from international duty after Algeria crashed out in the Group Stage of Africa Cup of Nations.
Joao Gomes (suspension), Hwang Hee-chan and Boubacar Traore (international duty) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
West Brom meet Wolves at The Hawthorns at 11:45am GMT on Sunday 28 January, live on ITV1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- West Brom are unbeaten in ten of their 11 previous FA Cup meetings against Wolves across nine separate ties (W8, D2, L1).
- Wolves are winless in their five previous FA Cup visits to West Brom (D2, L3), although the Old Gold did win the replay at Molineux on both occasions that they drew at The Hawthorns.
- West Brom failed to keep a clean sheet in three of their five previous home ties against Wolves in the FA Cup.
- West Brom have won one of their last five FA Cup ties at home to Premier League opposition (W1, L4).
- Wolves have lost just one of their last five away ties at lower league opposition in the FA Cup (W2, D2, L1).
Prediction
Suffering defeat at Championship play-off rivals, Norwich isn’t the ideal way for West Brom to come into this FA Cup clash in terms of momentum, but their home form has been excellent with two defeats all season so these Baggies can’t be underestimated.
Wolves though were effective on the counter-attack in their scrappy but deserved draw at Brighton where their defence was resilient, and after seeing Norwich utilise the counter-attack to beat West Brom I do expect Gary O’Neil’s Old Gold to look to do the same if can finish clinically.
The Hawthorns though has been a difficult place for many teams this season and with pride at stake, I do expect this to be a close contest and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Wolves have to take a replay and do the job back at Molineux.
Prediction: West Brom 1-1 Wolves
Result: West Brom 0-2 Wolves
Leave a Reply