Preview: West Bromwich Albion vs. Sheffield United - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking for their first home win in six matches, West Bromwich Albion will welcome league leaders Sheffield United to The Hawthorns for a Championship match on Sunday afternoon.

The Baggies shared the spoils once again at Preston North End last weekend, whilst the Blades secured a one-goal success over promotion rivals Sunderland.

Match preview

© Imago

Since the 1-0 defeat to Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns on October 1, West Brom have strung together a 10-game unbeaten run in the Championship, but a record of nine draws during that spell means that the hosts have lost ground in the race for Premier League promotion.

Tim Walter's Hull City are the only side to be defeated by the Baggies over the past two months, with the Black Country club posting draws versus Norwich City, Sunderland and relegation-threatened Preston following the final international break of the calendar year in November.

Finding the net for the fourth time in the second tier this season, Karlan Grant fired West Brom ahead at Deepdale to conclude a brilliant team move, but a second-half effort from towering Dane Emil Riis Jakobsen restored parity in the contest for the Lilywhites.

Ahead of back-to-back home matches against Sheffield United and Frank Lampard's Coventry City over the next week, Carlos Corberan's troops are occupying seventh spot in the Championship standings, two points behind Watford in the lowest of the playoff spots as the campaign enters the harsh winter months.

Unlike in previous seasons under the stewardship of Corberan, West Brom have struggled to produce consistent maximums at The Hawthorns so far in 2024-25, with Sunday's hosts collecting just 11 points from eight Black Country matches - only Hull (7), Portsmouth (6) and Queens Park Rangers (4) have earned fewer points at their respective home bases.

© Imago

Following a 20th-placed finish in the Premier League and a two-point deduction for this season earlier in the calendar year, Sheffield United have proven why they are still one of the favourites for promotion to the top flight, with this weekend's visitors to The Hawthorns enjoying an excellent start to the term.

A narrow success over Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby brought the Blades to four straight wins prior to the international break, and Chris Wilder's men have since collected a respectable tally of seven points from three matches against Coventry, Oxford United and Sunderland.

Sheffield United extended their winning and clean-sheet run at Bramall Lane to a sensational eight matches last weekend, when former Everton and England Under-21 midfielder Tom Davies netted his maiden goal for the club to conquer Sunderland, who have dropped down to fourth in the league.

Fighting to stretch their unbeaten league run to eight matches in the Black Country, the Blades are sitting pretty at the summit of the Championship standings ahead of consecutive away games, two points ahead of Burnley in second and three points in front of third-placed Leeds United.

Showing glimpses of his potential in a difficult environment over recent years at Stoke City, Tyrese Campbell is reaping the benefits of joining a promotion-chasing side in the Championship, with the 24-year-old netting on five occasions across 13 second-tier matches to date.

Team News

© Imago

Picking up four yellow cards so far this season, West Brom midfielder Alex Mowatt will be slapped with a one-match ban should he collect a caution this weekend.

The Baggies remain without the services of Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair, but the hosts' centre-back options have been boosted by the recent return of Kyle Bartley.

Ousmane Diakite has missed the last two matchday squads for the Albion due to a knee issue, although the Malian would be unlikely to start against the league leaders regardless.

Sheffield United are facing somewhat of an availability crisis ahead of Sunday's match, with both Anel Ahmedhodzic and Harry Souttar suspended.

Wilder will rely on veteran Jack Robinson to fill half of the gap in Blades' centre-back pairing, with Alfie Gilchrist potentially shifting in from right-back.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup: Palmer; Holgate, Bartley, Heggem; Furlong, Molumby, Mowatt, Racic, Fellows; Grant, Maja

Sheffield United possible starting lineup: Cooper; Seriki, Gilchrist, Robinson, Burrows; Peck, Vini Souza, Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Hamer; Campbell

We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Sheffield United

With Sheffield United arriving at The Hawthorns without their best defenders, we are expecting there to be opportunities for West Brom to find the net on Sunday.

The Blades still represent formidable opposition for the Baggies, who are unlikely to break their habit of sharing the spoils in the Championship.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.