Still reeling from a disappointing Derby Day defeat almost a fortnight ago, West Bromwich Albion will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome recently-promoted Plymouth Argyle to The Hawthorns on Saturday in the Championship.
The Baggies' poor recent record against Birmingham City continued at St Andrew's before the international break, while the Pilgrims suffered defeat at the hands of Swansea City at Home Park.
Match preview
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Following a five-game unbeaten run in the Championship, West Brom made the short trip across the West Midlands to Birmingham on October 6, aiming to record back-to-back away wins after a resounding 4-0 success at Deepdale against Preston North End a week earlier, and things started brightly for the Black Country outfit in the Second City.
Albion took control of the contest early on with John Swift caressing a long-range strike past the outstretched John Ruddy after five minutes, but the questionable decision to award Blues a penalty kick following a Cedric Kipre challenge kick-started an impressive revival from the hosts.
With Scott Hogan sitting on the bench, Juninho Bacuna slotted in Birmingham's equaliser from 12 yards in the 23rd minute, with goals from Dion Sanderson and Gary Gardner either side of the half-time whistle condemning the Baggies to their third loss in 11 second-tier matches so far in the 2023-24 campaign.
After being at their ruthless best in Lancashire against Preston just six days previously, Carlos Corberan's charges struggled to create a glut of meaningful opportunities as they chased the game in the second period, with the introductions of Brandon Thomas-Asante and Nathaniel Chalobah doing little to swing the match in the visitors' favour.
West Brom now face back-to-back Championship fixtures at The Hawthorns against newly-promoted Plymouth and relegation candidates Queens Park Rangers over the next week, and supporters will be expecting maximum points as they aim to keep within striking distance of the top six.
Similar to last season, home form has not been a stumbling block in Albion's desperate fight to escape the troubles of life in the Championship, with Corberan's side collecting a healthy 10 points from their opening five matches at their Black Country base so far this term.
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Plymouth suffered their fourth defeat in their last six second-tier matches prior to the season's second international pause, with the Green Army unable to hold onto a lead against Michael Duff's resurgent Swansea side, leaving Saturday's visitors looking precariously over their shoulders.
Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Luke Cundle bagged his third league goal of the term to put the Pilgrims ahead against their Welsh counterparts at Home Park, but a much-improved second-half display from the Swans saw them steal all the points, with Jerry Yates, Oliver Cooper and Josh Key all getting on the scoresheet.
Steven Schumacher is remaining realistic about his team's ambitions in the Championship this term despite his men breaking the 100-point mark to clinch the League One title in May - it is safe to say that 21st place and subsequent second-tier survival on their return to this level after a 13-year absence would be satisfactory.
The Devon-based club did their utmost to recruit a striker capable of firing Plymouth towards the top end of the table in the summer, and although a drawn-out attempt to sign Josh Coburn from Middlesbrough was unsuccessful, last season's leading marksmen Ryan Hardie has stepped up to the plate, netting five goals in 11 league games so far
The Green Army have a tricky-looking set of fixtures leading up to the final international break of the calendar year in November - with the exception of the visit of Sheffield Wednesday to Home Park next week - as Schumacher's side face the Baggies, Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough and Leeds United.
Team News
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West Brom boss Corberan provided an injury update on American striker Daryl Dike over the international break, with the 23-year-old targeting a return to action in the New Year following an Achilles issue sustained at Stoke City in April.
The Baggies have sorely missed a physical presence at the top end of the pitch that the former Orlando City man can provide in abundance, but the tireless running of Thomas-Asante and the quality of Grady Diangana should cause problems this weekend.
Albion's current top scorer Swift was forced off with a calf injury during the defeat at Birmingham and will not be available for at least a couple of weeks, meaning the likes of Jed Wallace and Alex Mowatt will be carrying more of the attacking burden.
Two of the hosts' summer arrivals are currently occupying beds in the medical room, with Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jeremy Sarmiento and Josh Maja struggling with muscle and ankle issues respectively.
As for Plymouth, last season's first-choice goalkeeper Michael Cooper stepped up his return from a cruciate ligament injury by keeping a clean sheet in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Torquay United over the international break, although Schumacher is set to ease the 24-year-old back into first-team affairs.
Conor Hazard will therefore retain his place in between the sticks for the Pilgrims at The Hawthorns, with the Northern Ireland international fresh from earning a clean sheet against minnows San Marino in European Championship qualifying last Saturday.
The Green Army's options in defensive areas remain restricted heading into Saturday's clash in the Black Country, as centre-back pairing Brendan Galloway and Lewis Gibson continue their recoveries from knocks.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Kipre, Bartley, Pieters; Furlong, Yokuslu, Mowatt, Phillips; Diangana, Wallace, Thomas-Asante
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Pleguezuelo, Scarr, Gillesphey; Edwards, Randell, Houghton, Mumba; Whittaker, Cundle, Hardie
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
Despite a disappointing performance and result against West Midlands rivals Birmingham last time out, West Brom will be confident of returning to winning ways on Saturday, even without the likes of Swift and Sarmiento.
Plymouth have struggled to impose themselves on contests when they are away from their Devonshire base, but we are backing the Pilgrims to pick up a point in the Black Country this weekend.
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Top tip
Carter White
