West Brom vs Plymouth prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-10-20 14:00.
Despite going 1-0 up after only five minutes in the West Midlands derby away to Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion went into the international break on the back of a 3-1 defeat. Manager Carlos Corberán described the game at St Andrews as “one of the most frustrating nights I have ever had” and he pointed to the 23rd-minute penalty decision, from which Birmingham equalised, as “not the right one”.
The derby loss brought about an end to a five match unbeaten run (W2, D3), and was only the second defeat in ten league games for the Baggies which had seen them climb into the play-off positions. Ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, Corberan’s side were two points off sixth place and looking to extend their impressive home form which has seen them lose only twice at The Hawthorns in the Championship since late October last year (W13, D4).
That solid home record looks unlikely to be threatened by this weekend’s visit from Plymouth Argyle, who will travel north still winless away from home in this campaign (D2, L3). The Pilgrims kept a clean sheet on their first trip of the season, a 0-0 draw at Watford, but have since conceded nine goals from four matches, although they have found the net themselves in all of those games.
With only two wins from their last ten league games (D2, L6), and successive home defeats against Swansea City and Millwall before the international break, Steven Schumacher’s side had slipped down the table to 18th. They come into this round of fixtures with only a three-point cushion above the relegation places, meaning that first away victory can not come soon enough!
Players to watch: John Swift has been in fine form this season with four of his six league goals coming at The Hawthorns, and you have to go back to April to find the last time West Brom scored in a home game without Swift getting on the scoresheet! For the visitors, Ryan Hardie is Plymouth’s leading marksman so far this campaign, with his five goals all coming after half-time.
Hot stat: West Brom opened the scoring in each of their last three matches with all three strikes coming before the 14th minute.