West Bromwich Albion will be glad that tonight’s encounter against Middlesbrough is happening this mid-week, seeing it as a perfect opportunity to bounce back straight after Saturday’s humbling Championship defeat away at Sheffield Wednesday.
That was the first time Carlos Corberan’s Baggies had tasted the bitterness of a defeat in the second tier this season, as the usually dogged and staunch West Brom defence was regularly opened up by Danny Rohl’s men, leading to a shock 3-2 win in favour of the hosts.
Corberan would have been enraged with his side at the final whistle, which could lead to a number of changes taking place for tonight’s tricky showdown with Michael Carrick’s Boro, who are fresh off a 2-0 victory themselves against Stoke City.
Even still, the Hawthorns has been a fortress for West Brom so far this campaign, with zero goals conceded and zero losses registered from three games so far, which will give the West Midlands side an advantage after their confidence was dented in South Yorkshire.
Regardless of West Brom feeling more confident in front of their own masses, some changes could still take place, with Karlan Grant one figure who might be axed…
West Brom’s usual number one in-between the sticks had a match to forget against Sheffield Wednesday, having to fish three strikes out of his net, but Alex Palmer is unlikely to be sacrificed for a different option tonight against Boro.
The 28-year-old has only conceded five goals all campaign, away from that rare off-day at Hillsborough, with three clean sheets picked up this season on his own patch.
Darnell Furlong didn’t cover himself in immense glory either away at the Owls, as his own goal in the first 45 minutes against Rohl’s buoyed-on hosts gifted Wednesday an early two-goal advantage.
Still, much like Palmer, Furlong hasn’t become a bad player overnight and is likely to be retained, having helped his side pick up a clean sheet and a win last match at the Hawthorns in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle.
Kyle Bartley will also likely remain in the heart of defence for tonight’s game back on home soil, having been everpresent under Corberan this season so far in the second tier.
That’s for good reason too, with Bartley standing out even in the 3-2 loss, with five clearances registered alongside successfully winning eight duels.
Semi Ajayi has been Bartley’s main partner in the centre-back spots this season, owing to the departure of Cedric Kipre, but also down to the fact the ex-Rotherham United man has been solid alongside his experienced teammate.
The Nigerian defender is confident playing out from the back, with 48 accurate passes averaged per Championship clash this campaign, whilst also winning 3.9 total duels on average to try and keep opposition attackers at bay.
Whilst Ajayi stepping up to the mark has made Kipre’s absence feel less noticeable, Torbjørn Heggem has struggled at points in the left-back spot, performing in the arguable shadow of the now departed Conor Townsend.
The 25-year-old full-back did look out of his depth at points away at Wednesday, with just one weak tackle registered, but he has shown signs of his promise down the left in other games away from this disappointing defeat.
