Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Luton Town: prediction, team news, lineups

Title-chasing West Bromwich Albion host bottom-of-the-league Luton Town at the Hawthorns on Saturday in a bid to return to the top of the Championship table.

The Baggies have been in stuttering form of late but will see this fixture as an opportunity to build some momentum as they look to secure an automatic promotion spot.

Match preview

West Brom's title charge has faltered in recent weeks, with the Baggies winless in their last seven Championship fixtures, losing three.

Slaven Bilic's side now find themselves just two points ahead of third-placed Nottingham Forest, having previously held a much more significant lead on the chasing pack.

However, their exploits earlier in the season have given them enough of a cushion that they still remain in an excellent position to secure automatic promotion, and they will view this fixture against Luton as a possible turning point.

Having already beaten the newly-promoted outfit 2-1 earlier this season, Bilic will hope his side can do the double over Saturday's opponents and use the fixture to restore morale and build momentum.

West Brom still boast the fiercest attack in the Championship and are the only side to have netted more than 50 goals so far in the division.

Luton, meanwhile, are bottom of the league and have by far the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 63 times in just 29 games so far - nine more than second-bottom side Barnsley.

Graeme Jones' side were on a nine-game winless run across all competitions - losing eight of those fixtures - before finally earning themselves a 3-2 win against 10-man Derby County last time out.

Luton will be hoping to build on that result and capitalise on the Baggies' poor form to pull off a shock against West Brom.

West Bromwich Albion Championship form: DLDDLL West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions): DWDLWL

Luton Town Championship form: DLLLLW Luton Town form (all competitions): LLLLLW

Team News

West Brom boss Bilic has more or less a full squad to choose from, with just one senior player out injured.

Left-back Kieran Gibbs is a regular on the treatment table and he is expected to be out once again with a hamstring problem.

Luton head coach Jones, on the other hand, has a few more absentees to deal with.

Matty Pearson and Brendan Galloway are both injured and are expected to miss the trip to the Hawthorns.

Martin Cranie and Danny Hylton are both back in training, but may not be risked in this one.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup: Johnstone; O'Shea, Bartley, Ajayi, Ferguson; Livermore, Sawyers; Phillips, Krovinovic, Edwards; Robson-Kanu

Luton Town possible starting lineup: Sluga; Bree, Daniels, Bradley, Potts; Ruddock, Rea, Tunnicliffe; Cornick, Collins, LuaLua

We say: West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Luton Town

Despite West Brom's woeful league form, they should still have enough quality to beat the side propping up the table, although it may be a closer contest than perhaps it should.