West Bromwich Albion will be looking to keep their incredibly slim hopes of staying in the Premier League alive when they welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to The Hawthorns on Monday night.
The Baggies are currently 19th in the table, 11 points behind 17th-placed Newcastle United on the same number of games, while Wolves occupy 12th position in England's top flight.
Match preview
Brighton & Hove Albion's 2-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday afternoon was bad news for West Brom, as it means that the gap to safety has now been extended to 11 points, with Newcastle United now occupying 17th spot ahead of their next game against Arsenal on Sunday.
It is likely to be win or bust for Sam Allardyce's side, who have only picked up 25 points from their 33 matches this term to occupy 19th position, and they look destined to return to the second tier of English football.
West Brom managed to record back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Southampton in the early stages of last month but have only picked up one point from their last two games with Leicester City and Aston Villa.
The Baggies were close to picking up a huge victory away to Villa last weekend, only for Keinan Davis to come up with a 92nd-minute leveller for Dean Smith's side.
West Brom have the third-worst home record in the Premier League this season, only picking up 14 points from 16 matches, but they have an excellent recent record over Wolves, winning the last three matches between the two sides in all competitions courtesy of an aggregate score of 10-3.
Wolves, meanwhile, will enter Monday's contest off the back of a heavy home defeat to Burnley, with Chris Wood scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 success for Sean Dyche's side.
The loss to the Clarets arrived after back-to-back wins over Fulham and Sheffield United, which came at a vital stage of the season for a team that were sliding down the division.
A record of 11 wins, eight draws and 14 defeats from 33 matches has left Nuno Espirito Santo's team in 12th position in the table, 14 points clear of the relegation zone.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a disappointing season for the former Championship winners, who have not been able to mount a challenge for a potential Europa League spot.
Wolves have been a difficult side to predict on their travels this season, meanwhile, winning five, drawing four and losing seven of their 16 Premier League fixtures away from Molineux.
- D
- L
- W
- W
- L
- D
- D
- L
- L
- W
- W
- L
Team News
West Brom will again be without the services of Branislav Ivanovic due to a long-term knee injury, while Robert Snodgrass is still unavailable for selection as he battles a series of long-standing niggles.
Head coach Allardyce is expected to select the same XI that took to the field against Villa last time out, with Callum Robinson retaining his spot in a wide area.
Dara O'Shea and Matt Phillips are the two players pushing hardest to break into the side, but the team that impressed at Villa Park for long spells should remain intact.
As for Wolves, Raul Jimenez, Pedro Neto and Jonny remain unavailable for selection through injury, while Fernando Marcal will also miss out due to a groin issue.
Joao Moutinho should shake off an ankle problem to feature, while Nelson Semedo is expected to pass a late fitness test to feature for the visitors as the right-sided wing-back.
Nuno should again select a front three of Willian Jose, Daniel Podence and Adama Traore, but Moutinho's expected return might see Leander Dendoncker drop into a back three.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Pereira, Gallagher, Yokuslu, Maitland-Niles, Robinson; Diagne
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Dendoncker, Coady, Boly; Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Ait-Nouri; Traore, Willian Jose, Podence
We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Brom will be forced to push forward and look for the victory, but we are struggling to back them against a Wolves side that is full of talent despite their issues this term. It would not be a surprise to see either a home or an away win on Monday night, but we have ultimately settled on a low-scoring draw.
Top tip
Video prediction
Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:
body check tags ::
