Bristol City vs West Brom prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-12-25 15:00.
The gloves are off for Bristol City, who host West Brom on Boxing Day with this contest part of a gruelling three league games in six days over the festive period coming against play-off contenders for the South West side. To make matters worse, the Robins suffered a blow in a 2-1 home defeat to fellow strugglers Stoke City last time out, a result which prompted manager Nigel Pearson to state his side "didn't make them work".
Now five Championship games without victory at the Ashton Gate Stadium (D2, L3), Bristol City fans might already have their side’s 17-game winless home league streak that ran into the beginning of last season on their minds, as they look anxiously over their shoulder. There is perhaps little reason to panic just yet however, as Bristol City’s record at the halfway stage this season is identical to last season (W7, D6, L10) when they finished a comfortable 18 points above the dropzone.
They might find extra comfort in the fact their opponents also arrive on the back of a defeat, with West Brom’s 1-0 loss at Coventry in midweek ending a five-game winning league run. Considering the nature of a fascinating Championship campaign, it’s perhaps difficult to predict what will happen next for West Brom, who strangely sit five points off both the play-off places and dropzone heading into this round of fixtures.
Baggies manager Carlos Corberán stated that the defeat to Coventry was "awful" but he’s managed to steady the ship by winning five of his seven games (L2) since taking over. A major factor has been West Brom’s new-found defensive resilience, with the four clean sheets kept under the Spaniard’s stewardship as many as in their previous 17 league games, though Bristol City beating them 2-0 in October indicates this may not be as cut and dry as the formbook suggests.
Players to watch: Bristol City forward Nahki Wells scored in defeat against Stoke and also netted in that league H2H earlier this season, both of which arrived in the first half. West Brom’s Jed Wallace will be battling him for the limelight having clocked up three goal contributions from his last three games (G1, A2).
Hot streak: Each of West Brom’s last nine Championship away goals have been netted by different players!