West Bromwich vs Middlesbrough
EFL Championship
Saturday
26th August 2023
The Hawthorns
The most comprehensive preview, detailed analysis and reliable predictions of game week 4 of the EFL Championship fixture of West Bromwich vs Middlesbrough.
West Bromwich vs Middlesbrough: Preview
West Bromwich form analysis
Albion sealed an important 2-1 win last season at home to playoff rivals Norwich, coming from behind after the break to claim the points through Townsend and Wallace. But they then suffered a frustrating 2-3 loss away at Swansea, twice leading through Yokuslu and Ajayi but undone late on by poor defending.
A narrow 1-2 home defeat to another rival in Blackburn followed as West Brom paid for conceding twice in the opening 22 minutes. They got back on track by beating Swansea 3-2 in an eventful game, leading 3-0 before holding on after a late fightback. Most recently though, West Brom could only draw 1-1 away at Leeds, going ahead through Thomas-Asante but pegged back by Ayling’s equalizer.
Overall, it’s been an up and down spell for West Brom who have oscillated between big wins and surprise defeats. Maintaining intensity and focus will be key – when on their game, West Brom have proven they have the quality to see off top sides. Tightening up defensively and taking more control of proceedings could help transform their promotion push.
Middlesbrough form analysis
Middlesbrough ended last season with two tight contests against playoff rivals Coventry – a 0-0 home draw followed by a narrow 0-1 loss away to Hamer’s strike.
They then suffered another 1-0 home defeat, this time to Millwall as they were undone by Esse’s late goal.Boros form dipped further with a 0-3 thrashing away at Coventry, conceding to Godden before falling apart after halftime. However, they did stop the rot with a 1-1 home draw against Huddersfield in their last game, equalizing Hackney’s fortunate strike to claim a point.
Overall, it’s been a disappointing spell for Boro whose promotion bid has stalled recently. Four defeats in five highlights issues at both ends – struggling to create chances while also conceding cheaply. Their previous solidity has abandoned them. Finding greater attacking inspiration to turn draws into wins is crucial, while tightening up defensively should provide a platform to rebuild momentum and confidence.
