Bristol City vs West Brom prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-09-15 14:00.
Bristol City are hovering on the fringes of the play-offs and an improvement in their home form could well be the key to them making the step up and being involved in the promotion shake-up. Ahead of this Saturday’s clash at Ashton Gate, the Robins have won only one of their last six home league games (W1, D3, L2) and have worryingly scored more than two goals in a home league fixture only once from their last 25!
After losing highly rated creative midfielder Alex Scott to Bournemouth in August, manager Nigel Pearson bemoaned his reduced goal scoring options but vowed he would just have to “get on with it” at the end of the transfer window. Their last home fixture against West Bromwich Albion saw them run out 3-0 winners in the FA Cup 4th Round earlier this year, so Pearson and his side should have a degree of confidence heading into this clash.
The FA Cup defeat was one of many poor away results for the Baggies in 2023, with just two away league victories secured from 12 attempts since January (W2, D2, L8). Keeping the back door shut has proved a tough task during that run, with the only clean sheet coming away at Blackpool who went on to be relegated from the division.
Carlos Corberán’s side travel down the M5 in a disappointing mid-table position but scoring at the other end of the pitch has at least not been an issue. Ahead of the round, they rank as one of only four teams in the Championship to already be in double figures in the goals scored column after finding the net across all five games so far this season, while they are yet to go through a second half without scoring.
Players to watch: Sam Bell is the only Bristol City player to score a league goal at Ashton Gate so far this season and he also fired home the winner away at Swansea earlier this month. He also enjoyed West Brom’s last visit to Ashton Gate, scoring twice in the FA Cup win. John Swift will arrive in Bristol in a confident mood as has netted in his last two Championship matches and found the net from the penalty spot for Reading at this venue in February 2022.
Hot stat: West Brom have had only one 0-0 draw from their last 38 Championship games and have gone 36 Championship away matches without a scoreless draw.