Oxford have avoided defeat in seven of their last nine league matches against West Brom
West Brom have failed to score in their last three fixtures
Recommended bet: Oxford or draw double chance
West Brom were prominent in the early weeks of the Championship promotion race but they slipped into the bottom half after Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Charlton and are in need of a boost as they prepare to lock horns with struggling Oxford in a key game for both teams.
Ryan Mason enjoyed a honeymoon period in the Baggies dugout as he led the team to three wins and a draw in the opening four league games.
But he finds himself under pressure on the eve of the November international break with Albion winless in four and 15th in the table.
Oxford are five points worse off, although they have a handy four-point cushion to the relegation places.
Gary Rowett’s side suffered a 3-0 loss at home to Stoke on Tuesday, but they have taken seven points on the travels, including victories over Bristol City (3-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (2-1).
Team news
West Brom have been short of options in midfield with Toby Collyer (hamstring) and Jayson Molumby (muscle strain) missing recent games.
Defender George Campbell (groin) will be absent until December but Daryl Dike and Tammer Bany offer potential solutions in attack as Mason ponders how to end his team’s three-game goal drought.
Oxford cannot call on veteran winger Matt Phillips, who continues to struggle with a thigh strain and is unable to feature against his former club, and they are stretched in the full back positions with Brodie Spencer (calf) and Jack Currie (knock) out of contention.
The latest West Brom vs Oxford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
West Brom have lost three of their last four fixtures.
Albion have scored fewer than two goals in 11 of their last 12 games.
The Baggies have won just one of their last six home matches.
All of West Brom’s last 12 games have featured less than four goals
Oxford have started the scoring in two of their last three away fixtures.
Prediction
Oxford have a few questions to answer after their midweek loss to Stoke, but they haven’t suffered back-to-back losses since the end of August and are capable of extracting a point or three from their trip to the Hawthorns.
As one of the division’s lower budget teams, Oxford are more philosophical than most when it comes to digesting a bad result.
Their manager, Gary Rowett, has a wealth of experience in the second tier and usually gets his players well organised and up for the fight.
Oxford tend to focus on doing the basics right and that may be enough to frustrate out-of-form Albion, who have been struggling to score goals.
West Brom have blanked in their last three games - including a 0-0 draw against basement dweller Sheffield Wednesday - and their sticky patch may continue for at least another weekend.
Back Oxford or draw double chance at 26/25 with LiveScore Bet
The latest West Brom vs Oxford odds are available on LiveScore Bet
