West Bromwich Albion play host to Southampton on Friday evening looking to further strengthen their hold of a place in the Championship playoffs.
At a time when the Baggies sit in fifth position in the standings, the Saints are third having suffered their first defeat since September earlier this week.
Match preview
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Throughout this campaign, West Brom have put together no more than a three-match winning streak, with that being on one occasion, and five league defeats have been posted since the start of December.
Nevertheless, Carlos Corberan's side head into this fixture with a four-point advantage in the race for a top-six spot, a consequence of seven points being accumulated from their last three outings.
Although there was frustration after twice giving up a lead at Ipswich Town on Saturday, West Brom bounced back with a 2-0 triumph over Cardiff City three days later.
That represented a fifth successive victory at The Hawthorns in the Championship, with just one goal being conceded - to Blackburn Rovers when they were already 3-0 ahead - during that time.
Such a run in defence means that West Brom have reached this stage of the season with the third-best defensive record in the division, something that will be put to the test against opponents with the second-best attacking statistics.
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Nevertheless, for the first time since September 30, Southampton are heading into a match on the back of a defeat after their monster unbeaten run was brought to an end by Bristol City.
The Saints had gone 25 fixtures without losing in all competitions before three second-half goals from the Robins put them to the sword at Ashton Gate, with the visitors then netting a late consolation goal from the penalty spot.
Russell Martin may have had concerns after the 5-3 thriller with Huddersfield Town three days earlier, with Southampton having not conceded three goals in a game before then since September 15.
In what is their fifth outing since February 3, they have now shipped six times in two fixtures; they had conceded the same amount in the preceding 13 games in all competitions.
Now sitting in third and two points adrift of the automatic promotion places, Martin is aware that his players need to deliver a response if they want to avoid slipping further adrift of a relentless Leeds United in the race for second.
Team News
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With Corberan having spoken openly about the need for rotation, it would come as no surprise if he tinkers with his West Brom XI.
Jed Wallace and Andreas Weimann are both in contention for recalls in the final third, with the places of Tom Fellows, John Swift and Mikey Johnston all at risk, while Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana will be assessed after their Africa Cup of Nations efforts.
Nathaniel Chalobah is also in contention for a return in midfield, but Daryl Dike is again out long term and Kyle Bartley remains a doubt through injury.
Martin will also make changes after the setback at Ashton Gate, with Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Fraser and Sekou Mara all potentially returning for Southampton.
Che Adams is expected to be available, Joe Aribo may feature on the substitutes' bench after Africa Cup of Nations duty, but Flynn Downes remains a doubt with the injury that kept him sidelined versus Bristol City.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Kipre, Pieters, Townsend; Yokuslu, Mowatt; Wallace, Weimann, Johnston; Thomas-Asante
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Smallbone, Rothwell, S. Armstrong; A. Armstrong, Mara, Fraser
We say: West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Southampton
With Southampton showing a vulnerable side on Tuesday night, West Brom will back themselves to inflict a second successive defeat on the Saints. However, despite more travelling for the South Coast outfit, we feel that an entertaining share of the spoils will play out at The Hawthorns.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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