Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Preston North End – prediction, team news, lineups

With their playoff spot yet to be confirmed, West Bromwich Albion will require a positive outcome from your meeting with Preston North End at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.

The Baggies are stumbling towards the top-six finish line as the campaign draws to a close, while the Lilywhites are marooned in mid-table amid a poor run of form.

Match preview

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For the first time in the highly successful reign of Carlos Corberan At The Hawthorns, West Brom have suffered three consecutive defeats in the Championship after last weekend, when the Baggies were devastated by a Sheffield Wednesday team who are fighting for their lives at the bottom.

A goal in the first half Antonio Musaba had the Owls ahead at half-time and danny rohlThe pupils achieved the maximum they needed in the second half, with goals from Josh Windass and on loan from Cardiff City Ike Ugbo Completing a day to forget for Albion as they chase promotion at Hillsborough.

Having enjoyed success only against League One side Rotherham United over the last seven matches of the Championship, there are understandable concerns over whether West Brom are ready to face the likes of Leeds United or Southampton in the playoffs, but the place of the Baggies in the stall. -The image of the season is not yet guaranteed.

Heading into the final match of the regular season, Corberan’s charges sit in sixth place in the second division standings, two points ahead of Hull City in seventh place and considering West Brom’s much superior goal difference compared to The Tigers, a draw with Preston at The Thorns should be enough to book a place in the playoff semi-finals.

With 46 of their 72 Championship points earned at The Hawthorns so far this season, Albion will be delighted to have Saturday’s crucial clash played at their Black Country base, a venue where the Baggies have lost just four times in 22 suspenders. Games throughout 2023-24.

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Any faint hope of Preston supporters sneaking into the playoffs has been cruelly dashed by a run of four consecutive defeats in the Championship since mid-April, with the Lilywhites accumulating zero points and failing to score during meetings with Norwich City, Southampton. , Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City.

Deepdale hosted a Leicester promotion party on Monday night, when a double from the Foxes legend Jaime Vardy and a strike Kasey McAteer secured the second division crown for Enzo Maresca‘s, with Preston unable to stop the progression of a team that will play in the Premier League in August.

Ahead of Saturday’s season finale at The Hawthorns, Ryan LoweThe Lancashire troops sit 10th in the Championship standings, nine points behind sixth-placed West Brom, meaning a late push into the playoffs on the final day is firmly out of reach for the based club. in Lancashire.

He is due to leave when his contract at Preston expires in the summer. Alan Browne He played his last game at Deepdale for the Lilywhites as Leicester cruised to victory on Monday, and the Irishman attracted plenty of interest in the Championship ahead of the transfer window.

West Bromwich Albion Championship Form:

Preston North End Championship Form:

Team News

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West Brom is left without the services of Jayson Molumbywith the Republic of Ireland international sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with a foot injury.

It’s okay Yokuslu and Alex Mowatt They have been the preferred defensive midfield pairing in Molumby’s absence, although Nathaniel Chalobah It can also work in the engine room.

Matt Phillips He made his first start since returning from a serious hamstring injury last time out, but the veteran could fall to the bench on Saturday.

Preston will not be able to call on the talents of both Alistair McCann and Ben Whitemanwith the couple in the medical room due to thigh and leg injuries respectively.

liam lindsay has been a standout defender for Lowe’s men this season and will continue in the three-man backline alongside Andrew Hughes and Jack whatever.

After failing to find the net once again on Monday, Preston could freshen up their attack at The Hawthorns, with Emil Riis Jakobsen pressing to start.

Possible West Bromwich Albion starting lineup:
Palmero; Furlong, Bartley, Kipre, Townsend; Mowatt, Yokuslu, Fellows, Diangana, Johnston; Thomas Asante

Preston North End possible starting line-up:
woodcutter; What does it matter, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Ledson, Browne, Brady; Keane, Frokjaer-Jensen, Jakobsen

We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Preston North End

West Brom’s stellar record at The Hawthorns suggests a comfortable win for the hosts on Saturday, but it could become an intense affair for the Baggies if Hull score early at Plymouth Argyle.

Preston are stumbling towards the second-tier finish line, and we can’t imagine the Lilywhites disrupting Albion’s top-six ambitions in this one.

For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, click here.

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