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

Looking to unafraid their maiden points of 2025, West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End volition fastener horns astatine The Hawthorns for a Championship lucifer connected New Year's Day.

The Baggies person struggled connected the roadworthy since a daze alteration successful coaching unit implicit the festive period, whilst supporters of the Lilywhites person enjoyed plentifulness of Christmas cheer.

Match preview

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Following a regular two-goal occurrence implicit Bristol City astatine The Hawthorns connected December 22, West Brom were robbed of their first-team manager Carlos Corberan, with the Spaniard deciding to nexus up with his erstwhile nine Valencia, who are warring disconnected relegation successful La Liga.

Since the Black Country departure of Corberan, the Baggies person collected conscionable the azygous constituent crossed a brace of Championship clashes during the last stages of the festive schedule, losing 2-1 astatine Derby County connected Boxing Day earlier sharing the spoils with Sheffield United connected Sunday afternoon.

It appeared arsenic if playoff hopefuls West Brom were destined for their 3rd decision successful 4 second-tier battles arsenic Andre Brooks netted his maiden extremity for the Blades successful the archetypal period, nevertheless an fantabulous low-driven decorativeness from Karlan Grant restored parity successful the contention for the visitors.

Heading into a caller calendar year, Albion - who are presently nether the interim enactment of erstwhile players Chris Brunt and Boaz Myhill - beryllium eighth successful the Championship rankings, conscionable a azygous constituent down Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough successful the lowest of the playoff spots.

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Preston volition question to The Hawthorns connected New Year's Day connected a ngo to grounds 3 consecutive Championship successes for the archetypal clip since February 2024, with the Lancashire outfit securing back-to-back Deepdale triumphs implicit strugglers Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday since Boxing Day.

The Lilywhites were fixed a large scare connected Sunday day erstwhile Josh Windass produced an equaliser during the 2nd fractional for the Owls, nevertheless a superb brace by Emil Riis Jakobsen and a 5th extremity of the second-tier word by Sam Greenwood sealed a convincing 3-1 win.

Losing conscionable 1 of their six second-tier battles successful the period of December, Preston person moved themselves up to 14th presumption successful the Championship table up of Wednesday afternoon's travel to the West Midlands, 8 points from some the playoff spots and the bottommost three.

Rather unsurprisingly, Paul Heckingbottom's troops person failed to acceptable the part alight connected the roadworthy this term, with Preston winning 1 and collecting conscionable 8 points crossed 11 Championship distant matches truthful acold - lone Oxford United (0) and Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle (0) person won less games connected their respective travels.

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

Preston North End Championship form:

Team News

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West Brom were without the services of some Alex Mowatt and Mason Holgate for the travel to Bramall Lane connected Sunday, though some could marque their comebacks astatine The Hawthorns.

Jayson Molumby produced an outstanding show successful midfield against Sheffield United and volition undoubtedly clasp his spot successful the side, but it remains to beryllium seen whether Ousmane Diakite volition commencement erstwhile again.

The Baggies are battling connected without the services of centre-back Semi Ajayi and striker Daryl Dike, with the second yet to marque an quality this play owed to an Achilles injury.

Despite conceding during the 2nd fractional against Sheffield Wednesday, Preston should instrumentality with a centre-back trio of Jordan Storey, Jack Whatmough and Andrew Hughes.

With towering Dane Jakobsen and Leeds United loanee Greenwood some uncovering the nett connected the weekend, the likes of Milutin Osmajic are acceptable to settee for a spot connected the seat erstwhile again.

West Bromwich Albion imaginable starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Grant, Johnston, Maja

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

After a gritted and determined show astatine Sheffield United connected the weekend, West Brom should beryllium assured of starting 2025 with 3 points astatine The Hawthorns.

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