With pressure growing on Steve Bruce at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion will aim to return from the international break with a win on Saturday as they host Swansea City.
The hosts only sit above the relegation zone in the Championship on goal difference after 10 games, with their opponents having leapfrogged them with a victory prior to the break.
Match preview
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In their bid to return to the Premier League under the management of Steve Bruce, West Bromwich Albion have experienced a worryingly slow start to the Championship season, amassing just 10 points in 10 games and only putting one win on the board.
That one victory came at home to Hull City in August, but the Baggies were unable to build a winning run from then, only being able to draw in each of the following contests with Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Burnley.
Bruce's men were then handed a second league defeat of the season, falling short against rivals Birmingham City as a late Brandon Thomas-Asante penalty was not enough to spark a turnaround after a Scott Hogan hat-trick had put their visitors 3-1 up.
In their final outing before the break, the Midlands outfit travelled to take on Norwich City, and they were at least able to leave with a commendable point after Dara O'Shea's opener was cancelled out by Sam Byram, although other results still saw them drop to 21st spot with the Baggies only leading Middlesbrough on goal difference.
With scrutiny undoubtedly on Bruce's position, he will be desperate to see his side score just a second league win of the campaign to jump back above their opponents.
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Swansea City also experienced a concerning start to the league season, as defeats to Luton Town and Middlesbrough and a draw with Stoke City left them on just six points from seven Championship outings.
Russell Martin's side were then able to make an important return to winning ways against Queens Park Rangers, as Joel Piroe hit the only goal of the game to somewhat improve their position at the bottom end of the table, before they were the victims of a late winner as Reda Khadra snatched all three points for Sheffield United with a 94th-minute finish in south Wales.
Hoping to bounce back from that disappointment, the Swans took on Hull City prior to the international break, and after the game remained goalless until the hour mark, they took control in impressive fashion with Ryan Manning, Luke Cundle and Piroe getting on the scoresheet in an eventual 3-0 win.
While the pause in domestic action may have stopped Swansea quickly building momentum on the back of that improved performance, they have managed to rise to 16th spot and will aim to put a second straight three-point haul on the board to continue their climb up the division.
Team News
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West Bromwich Albion are still unable to call upon striker Daryl Dike, who remains on the sidelines with a long-term injury, and summer signing Brandon Thomas-Asante may again be picked over Karlan Grant to lead the line, having earned a first start against Norwich after scoring off the bench in both of his opening two games following a switch from Salford City.
With Bruce sticking with a 4-2-3-1 setup, the lone striker will have plenty of support, as John Swift is set to operate in the hole with Grady Diangana and Jed Wallace providing attacking threat from the wings.
Further back, Okay Yokuslu could return to the starting XI at the base of midfield alongside Jayson Molumby, while recent signing Erik Pieters may again play alongside Dara O'Shea in defence, after Semi Ajayi picked up an injury prior to the international break.
Swansea City's attack will be spearheaded by Joel Piroe, who has found his form in front of goal recently, netting his first four goals of the Championship season in the last five games after notching up 22 in the second tier last term.
He was flanked by Michael Obafemi and Olivier Ntcham in the early stages of the campaign, but Jay Fulton and Oli Cooper were preferred in more advanced roles in support of the Dutch forward in the lead up to the break.
Luke Cundle may also have his sights set on one of those spots, with the pairing of Matt Grimes and Joe Allen unlikely to be changed in the engine room, while Harry Darling will hope to break back into the defensive line after Nathan Wood, Kyle Naughton and Ben Cabango were preferred in the Swans' most recent outing.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Button; Furlong, O'Shea, Pieters, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Thomas-Asante
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Cabango, Naughton, Darling; Sorinola, Allen, Grimes, Manning; Fulton, Cundle; Piroe
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion will see it as crucial that they put a win on the board at home on Saturday, but they have managed just one victory so far this season, and we cannot predict them putting the Swans to the sword as a result.
Instead, we see Martin's men holding this somewhat stagnant Baggies side and returning to south Wales with a valuable point.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
