West Brom vs Birmingham predictions: Baggies can bag in both halves

Simon Barlow

Spotlight

Carlos Corberan's West Brom remain in the play-off hunt in fifth, despite their recent defeat at Norwich

- West Brom have scored in both halves in three of their last seven home league games
- Birmingham have conceded in both halves in five of their last eight away league trips
- Recommended Bet: West Brom to score in both halves

After both clubs were sent crashing out of the FA Cup last weekend, West Brom and Birmingham return to Championship action with a big Midlands derby at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.

The Baggies remain firmly in the play-off mix as Carlos Corberan's side sit in fifth despite losing to Norwich last time out.

They take on a Birmingham side that remain unbeaten in the league since Tony Mowbray was appointed in early January, albeit one that lies in 20th place and cannot afford to hang around so close to the relegation zone.

Team news

Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana remain on international duty with Nigeria and DR Congo respectively while Jayson Molumby could miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery for a foot injury.

Striker Josh Maja is in a similar situation after suffering ankle ligament damage and Matt Phillips will be out for some time due to a hamstring problem.

Adam Reach (ankle) will be absent again, but Daryl Dike could make his return from a minor calf issue.

New capture Mikey Johnston should be in line to make his Baggies debut after arriving on a season-long loan from Celtic.

As for Birmingham, there could be debuts for new signings Alex Pritchard from Sunderland and Paik Seung-ho.

Juninho Bacuna could also make his return after missing the Blues' FA Cup fourth round defeat to Leicester with a sore knee.

But captain Dion Sanderson (ankle) and right-back Cody Drameh (toe) are still at least a week away from being declared fully fit.

And there is a fresh doubt over John Ruddy, who is nursing a slight injury that made the club consider signing another goalkeeper on deadline day.

The stats

Tony Mowbray has lost only one of his four games since taking over at Birmingham, and that was to Leicester in the FA Cup

West Brom have lost their last four league games against Birmingham, including a 3-2 thriller that featured a hat-trick from visiting striker Scott Hogan last season.

But the Baggies, who have lost their last two matches in all competitions, have never lost five in a row against the Blues.

Mowbray's side ended a six-game winless league run with a 2-1 away win at Stoke last time out in the Championship, but the Blues have not won consecutive away games since September 2022.

Mowbray, who guided Albion to the Championship title and the FA Cup semi-finals in 2007-08, has won just two of eight league games against his former club (D3 L3).

The latest West Brom vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Both teams are without key players for this one, but West Brom's greater squad depth could see them through.

Birmingham's defence will be at full stretch to deal with the losses of Sanderson and Drameh while Ruddy's potential absence could be a major problem.

The home side are backable at a shade of odds on, but it is tempting to explore the possibility of Albion finding the back of the Blues' net in each half.

Birmingham have conceded goals either side of the break in five of their last eight away league games and were not far off doing it at Leicester last week when the Foxes opened their three-goal account in the 47th minute.

Back West Brom to score in both halves at 17/10 with LiveScore Bet.