Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

West Bromwich Albion will be looking to get back to winning ways when they clash with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night.

The Baggies were out-battled in their recent West Midlands derby with Birmingham City, whereas Blackburn earned a respectable point at promoting-chasing Watford last time out.

Match preview

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Following the announcement that highly-rated boss Carlos Corberan had signed improved terms with the club last week, the Baggies went into their Friday night meeting with Birmingham in a buoyant mood.

However, an inventive free-kick from Blues' Hannibal Mejbri - helped significantly by some questionable positioning from Albion keeper David Button - and Krystian Bielik's first of the campaign handed the visitors at St Andrew's a 2-0 defeat.

Having lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, Albion's place in the playoffs is far from guaranteed despite a drastic overall improvement under the stewardship of Corberan, with his men sitting in ninth, two points off the top six.

The majority of West Brom's bad days have come on the road since the ex-Huddersfield Town man took charge, with the Baggies winning all of their last eight matches at The Hawthorns, the type of form which will always give a side a chance of mounting a promotion push.

As the team's position in the Championship has risen, so has the crowds in the Black Country, with Albion fans finally having the makeup of a team - and certainly a manager - to be proud of after difficult periods under Valerien Ismael and Steve Bruce.

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Blackburn are beginning to show shoots of recovery after a worrying start to their campaign following the World Cup break, with Jon Dahl Tomasson's men extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches with a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road against Watford.

Midfielder Bradley Dack put the visitors on Saturday afternoon into the lead within 25 minutes, but a late Wesley Hoedt goal for the Hornets allowed Slaven Bilic's side to force a share of the spoils.

A win on the weekend would have taken Rovers into the top six at the expense of Watford, although the draw meant Blackburn remained out of the playoff zone by a single point heading into this week's round of fixtures.

Despite an abundance of attacking talents within their ranks such as Chilean Ben Brereton Diaz, the Lancashire-based club have struggled to find the net in recent matches, scoring just once in normal time in the last three games.

Team News

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West Brom boss Corberan has some tough decisions to make in terms of team selection after a disappointing performance at St Andrew's on Friday night, with 21-year-old Joshua Griffiths a possible replacement for the unsettled Button in between the sticks.

Daryl Dike has failed to impress in recent matches, meaning Brandon Thomas-Asante could be handed his first start since the FA Cup third-round tie with Chesterfield, although Corberan has tended to keep faith in the American.

Kyle Bartley and Matt Phillips remain sidelined with foot and muscle injuries respectively, with the latter's absence leaving Marc Albrighton, Jed Wallace and Grady Diangana to fight for starting berths on the flanks.

Blackburn are set to continue with Tyrhys Dolan occupying a central-striking role on Wednesday night after the 21-year-old impressed at Vicarage Road, meaning that the out-of-form Sam Gallagher will have to settle for a place on the bench.

Callum Brittain returned to the matchday squad for the first time in two months after a knee injury, although Rovers boss Tomasson admitted his return to first-team action had been rushed slightly by the illness to full-back Tayo Edun in the past week.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Button; Furlong, O'Shea, Pieters, Townsend; Chalobah, Molumby, Albrighton, Swift, Wallace; Thomas-Asante

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Pears; Rankin-Costello, Carter, Wharton, Pickering; Travis, Morton, Thomas, Dack, Brereton Diaz; Dolan

We say: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

West Brom have faltered slightly in recent away games at Burnley, Bristol City and Birmingham, but the Baggies have been exceptional at The Hawthorns since Corberan took charge, and his side will be confident of continuing that form.

Despite a dip in form since December, Blackburn are still in the hunt for a top-six place and would send out a real statement if they defeated Albion in this one - however, we see them narrowly losing out.

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