It’s Monday Night football as West Bromwich Albion host Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns as round 32 of the EFL Championship comes to a close. The home side sit in 9th as 3rd place Blackburn look to ensure they at least secure a playoff place while keeping the pressure on Bournemouth and Fulham above them in the table. West Brom still have a realistic chance of finishing in those all-important playoff spots, but they will need to start picking up points soon having only won 1 of their last 8 games in the Championship. However, Steve Bruce is determined to get West Brom back to the Premier League but his first game in charge didn’t go as planned – losing away to Sheffield United midweek.
Steve Bruce will take control of his first home game in charge as West Brom manager but will be without his skipper, Jake Livermore, due to suspension as he seen red for the second time this season in his side’s defeat during the week. Matt Philips is also unlikely to play, and Kyle Bartley won’t be available for selection through illness.
Tony Mowbray will also have to make a change because of suspension with Irish defender Lenihan serving his match ban. Mowbray stated that left back Harry Pickering will be travelling with the squad which will be a boost in defence with Lenihan’s suspension.
I have listed my 3 favourite selections for this Championship clash coming in at around 9.82, with research listed for each selection and a pre match Cheat Sheet to get stuck into as well!
West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers Bet Builder Tips
Both Teams to Score
Both teams go into this fixture having not won in their last 3 games and losing their last 2 in the Sky Bet Championship. Both managers will be desperate to turn their teams form around and will know that they need to start picking up points while they are still able to finish the season in a playoff place.
This fixture is always jam packed with goals and has seen both teams scoring in the 5 previous meetings between the two sides. Going further back, there has only been 2 out of 9 meetings since 2010 where both teams haven’t scored in this matchup so it is pretty likely that there will be goals in this one too.
As I said, both teams need a win and Steve Bruce will be keen to prove himself in his first outing in front of the home fans and I expect both teams to go for it, trying to capitalise on each other’s poor current form knowing the result could go either way.
Admittedly, goals haven’t been these sides strong point in recent games having failed to score in their last 3 but what better way to change this than playing against a side out of form, which should allow opportunities at both ends with attacking talent in each side.
I just can’t see past this selection with the statistics from previous meetings and with odds of 1.95, both teams to score is the first selection of my bet builder.
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Prediction: Both Teams to Score
Jayson Molumby to be booked
With captain Jake Livermore suspended for this game, it is expected that Jayson Molumby will come into the squad to replace him. The 22-year-old Brighton loanee came on at half time in West Brom’s last match when Livermore was sent off just 5 minutes before the break.
The Irish midfielder has made 18 appearances for The Baggies this season with a lot of them coming from the bench but with Livermore out and Molumby being predicted to start, it looks as though he will have more minutes to be booked, I like the look of this selection.
As you can see from my Cheat Sheet below, Molumby averages 2.04 fouls per game this season and has managed to pick up 7 yellows already, with only 8 starts in his 18 appearances, the young midfielder clearly has a bit of a temper on him which is why I am backing him to get booked in this big championship matchup on Monday night.
At odds of 3.5 on Paddy Power, I think there is decent value in this selection and his Cheat Sheet stats back it nicely.
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Prediction: Jayson Molumby to be booked
Ben Brereton Díaz to have 1+ shots on target
The Chilean international has struggled of late by his standards and going through a bit of a goal drought as the forward has failed to score in his last 5 matches for Blackburn. However, he managed to grab a goal on international duty for Chile in their defeat to Argentina at the end of last month during this drought so the problems may not lie directly with Brereton Diaz himself.
Despite his lack of goals recently, Ben Brereton-Diaz is likely to cause all sorts of problems for the struggling West Brom defence. The striker has been in fine form this season, managing to bag himself 20 goals in 29 games this season while also helping his teammates out with 7 assists. Almost Averaging a goal contribution per game, his stats show just how much of a problem he could pose to Steve Bruce’s side
His Cheat Sheet stats are pretty decent too averaging 1.55 shots on target per game and I think he will hit the target at least once in this one. Brereton Diaz manged to register 3 shots on target in Blackburn’s last match. For one shot on target Paddy Power are offering 1.25 for this selection which I think is pretty good when looking at his Cheat Sheet stats. I also wouldn’t bet against the Chilean grabbing his 21st goal of the season in this one against this West Brom side shipping plenty goals.
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Prediction: Ben Brereton Díaz to have 1+ shots on target
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets *
Predicted Line-ups
West Brom predicted XI (4-2-3-1) : Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Clarke, Townsend; Molumby, Mowatt; Robinson, Reach, Grant; Carroll
Blackburn predicted XI (3-4-1-2) : ; Kaminski; Van Hecke, Ayala, Wharton; Nyambe, Travis, Rothwell, Giles; Buckley; Khadra, Brereton Diaz
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing *
How to watch West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship
📅 When is West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers? / Monday, 14th February 2022, 20;00
🏟 Where is West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers? / The Hawthorns (West Bromwich)
📺 What TV channel is West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers on? / Sky Sports Main Event
🟨 …And who is the referee for West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers? / John Brooks 🏴
