MY ACCOUNT
– West Brom must bounce back from consecutive defeats if they are to push for a top-six finish
– Coventry have landed some impressive results but struggle away from home
– Recommended bet: West Brom to win and over 2.5 goals
Back-to-back defeats have stalled West Brom’s impressive charge under Carlos Corberan but the Baggies boss will not be panicking just yet.
A top-six tilt is the target, which remains eminently achievable for a high-class West Brom squad – and a narrow loss at runaway leaders Burnley and an FA Cup exit against Bristol City should not derail Corberan’s side.
But Coventry are just three points behind their hosts and, in a congested Championship table, Mark Robins’ men will have designs of their own on the play-off places.
A return to form last time out against Huddersfield stopped the rot of a recent poor run of results and fending off interest in star man Viktor Gyokeres will further buoy a Coventry squad who have been confident punching above their weight this season.
West Brom vs Coventry (Friday, 8pm)
Team news
West Brom are likely to be without winger Matt Phillips for the rest of the season following thigh surgery, right-back Martin Kelly has been loaned out to Wigan and Kenneth Zohores contract was cancelled.
Defender Kyle Bartley is closing in on a return from injury and could make the bench, while Corberan’s squad has been boosted by the deadline-day arrival of former Fulham midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah and Leicester winger Marc Albrighton.
Coventry striker Matt Godden and midfielder Josh Eccles made a welcome return to the bench for last weekend’s defeat of Huddersfield, while new signing Luke McNally came straight into the back three and fellow new boy Sean Maguire came off the bench late on.
Defender Kyle McFadzean could also return after recovering from a calf tear and there is a chance of Tyler Walker returning from a torn cruciate ligament, but wing-back Fankaty Dabo looks likely to miss out with a hamstring strain.
Centre-back Michael Rose should return after missing the Huddersfield match through illness but midfielder Callum O’Hare is out for the season with a ruptured ACL.
The stats
West Brom have been transformed by the arrival of Corberan – after losing to Sheffield United in their first match under the Spaniard the Baggies then won 10 of their next 12 games.
That run was ended by back-to-back defeats in the past fortnight, but only an 87th-minute goal denied the Baggies an excellent point away at league leaders Burnley, while their loss to Bristol City came in the lower-priority FA Cup.
The only loss in West Brom’s 12-match run before that setback came against Friday night’s opponents, Coventry, who deservedly beat the Baggies 1-0 despite only sealing the points in that match thanks to a 93rd-minute penalty.
However, while the Sky Blues have been impressive on home soil this term – also beating top-six trio Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Blackburn at the CBS Arena – Robins’ men have the fifth-worst away record in the Championship, taking just 13 points from 13 games.
Prediction
While their recent defeats can be readily excused, West Brom manager Corberan will know the importance of getting back on track to ensure that a harmless blip does not grow into something more serious.
All the suggestions from his time at The Hawthorns suggest he will be able to inspire a return to winning ways and playing on home soil should help his men land a victory over a Coventry side who struggle on the road.
Putting over 1.5 West Brom goals into Bet Builder selections looks a sensible play given they have scored more than once in four of their last five home matches, but the best value bet could be to back a high-scoring home win.
In Gyokeres, Coventry boast one of the most impressive players in the second tier and the visitors may well contribute to the scoring. But West Brom possess the quality and firepower to out-score their visitors and take all three points.
Back West Brom to win and over 2.5 goals, available at 7/4 with LiveScore Bet.
