Preview | West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City
Swansea City travel to The Hawthorns this afternoon to face West Bromwich Albion in the Sky Bet Championship (3pm kick-off), looking to build on victory last time out.
The home side have picked up six points in their five matches on home turf this season with one win and three draws. Their sole defeat at home came last time out at The Hawthorns when they suffered a 3-2 loss to west Midlands rivals Birmingham City.
In their last game, they secured a good draw against early promotion favourites Norwich City and they will be hoping to build on that result and performance.
The Swans head to the midlands in search of a third win in four, while Joel Piroe appears to have recaptured his form from last season with three goals in four games, and will be hoping to continue their recent good fortunes against the Baggies having completed the league double last term.
TEAM NEWS
Joe Allen is in contention for Swansea City’s trip to West Brom, while Joel Latibeaudiere is back in the squad after his shoulder injury.
But Jamie Paterson is set to miss out as he battles with a groin issue, while Liam Cullen is not yet ready to return from his own shoulder injury. Liam Walsh remains absent.
PRE-MATCH VIEWS
Russell Martin:
“We showed against Sheffield United that the guys can compete against anyone in this league.
“We had started to pick up some momentum in terms of performances and picking up seven points from four games before the break, and the players have to really believe and be excited by the challenge of this month.
"It is a hectic schedule and I think it will tell us a lot about where we are."
Steve Bruce:
“We’ve seen a lot of Swansea City and we know how they’ll try and play at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.
“Under Russell Martin they’ll play a possession-based style of football and that will mean that we’ll have to try and be patient at times.
“However, we’re at home and the onus is on us to go and stamp our authority on the game.
“We’ve played well at home for the majority of games so far this season with a couple of exceptions."
REMEMBER THE LAST TIME?
Late goals from Joel Piroe and Cyrus Christie gave Swansea City a deserved win at West Brom on their last visit to The Hawthorns back in February.
It was no less than the performance merited, as the visitors bounced back from a poor showing at Sheffield United by growing into the game, taking control and creating the clearer openings.
Piroe had earlier struck the post, while the dangerous Hannes Wolf had gone close, while Michael Obafemi had been unable to convert two gilt-edged chances.
But the Dutchman made no mistake when steering in an Olivier Ntcham cross for the opener, before Christie netted his second goal in three games when Wolf’s cross came through to him at the back post.
At the other end, Albion twice hit the woodwork through Callum Robinson but rarely worked Andy Fisher in the Swansea goal as their wretched run of form continued.
PRIME NUMBERS
1 – West Brom have lost just once at home in the league so far this season.
3.7 – Joel Piroe has regained his 2021-22 goal scoring form in September scoring two goals in three games. He also registered a league high 3.7 xG last month.
19 – Since 1927 West Brom and the Swans have met 44 times in the league. Nine of these contests have ended in draws while Swansea have come out on top 19 times.