West Brom vs Leeds prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-28 20:15.
The Boxing Day fixtures saw West Brom bring an end to a two-match winless run in the Championship (D1, L1) as they saw off ten-man Norwich at the Hawthorns. Carlos Corberán’s side sit inside the play-offs and will be looking to cement their place there with a win over fellow promotion hopefuls Leeds, although they’ll be desperate to avoid a repeat of the last H2H on this ground that ended in a 5-0 defeat!
That certainly looks unlikely as no side in the division can match West Brom’s tally of 11 clean sheets so far this term. Six of those came at the Hawthorns, and as the Baggies have lost just one of their last nine league matches on their own soil (W5, D3), confidence is bound to be high in closing the six-point gap to Leeds, even if West Brom have failed to win any of the last six H2Hs (D2, L4).
Visitors Leeds have been feeling the festive blues, winning just one of their last four matches (D1, L2) and subsequently relinquishing third place to Southampton as a result. Daniel Farke’s side were beaten late at Preston on Boxing Day, leading the German to lament that his side were “a bit lazy” in the wake of a thumping victory over promotion rivals Ipswich.
Another away assignment will hardly be welcome as Leeds find themselves amid a two-match losing run on the road – they’ve not lost three in a row in the Championship since April 2018! Farke will be keen to rediscover his side’s solidity at the back, as only runaway leaders Leicester have conceded fewer goals than Leeds heading into this round.
Key battle: West Brom forward Brandon Thomas-Asante netted the winner against Norwich – all eight of his goals this campaign, including the opener in this season’s reverse fixture, have arrived between the 35th and 70th minute. With Illan Meslier suspended, goalkeeper Karl Darlow is in line for a start – he kept a clean sheet on his only previous Championship meeting against West Brom.
Hot stat: West Brom have scored ten unanswered goals between half-time and the 60th minute.