West Brom v Sunderland preview: Team news, head-to-head, prediction
Sunderland are back on the road this weekend with an away encounter against playoff-chasing West Brom.
Off the back of a 1-0 victory against Millwall, Sunderland will be keen to build momentum ahead of the final seven games of the season.
A playoff place seems to be all but nailed on already for Sunderland, though the importance of maintaining current form and consistency cannot be understated.
West Brom are the opponents up next for the Black Cats, in a game that promises to be tightly contested.
Preview
It looks likely that both sides will be featuring in the playoffs come to the end of the season, with the potential of the two being each other’s opponent in the semi-final.
West Brom are off the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Norwich City, where Josh Sargent scored a last-minute winner, while Sunderland will be keen to build on their victory over Alex Neil’s Millwall.
| Championship | W | D | L | P |
| Sunderland (4th) | 20 | 12 | 7 | 72 |
Just two places separate the two sides ahead of their clash, though there is a 15-point differential, showcasing just how likely Sunderland are to achieve a top-six finish at the very least.
A win for the hosts could take them up to fifth, while a defeat could see them drop into eighth depending on results elsewhere, while the Black Cats will remain unmoved regardless of the result.
Form Guide
West Brom: DWDDL
Sunderland: WWDLW
Head-to-head
Sunderland 0-0 West Brom (November 2024)
West Brom 0-1 Sunderland (April 2024)
Sunderland 2-1 West Brom (December 2023)
West Brom 1-2 Sunderland (April 2023)
Sunderland 1-2 West Brom (December 2022)
Team news
Sunderland had had bad luck with injuries as of late, with several players expected to miss the clash with the Baggies.
Dennis Cirkin, Salis Samed, Dan Ballard, Leo Hjelde and Jenson Seelt are all expected to miss out, though Ballard is edging closer to match fitness.
However, Sunderland could be boosted by the return of Enzo Le Fee, who only narrowly missed the Millwall clash.
As for the hosts, Josh Maja could be in line to return against his former club, while Jed Wallace and Semi Ajayi remain as doubts.
Predicted lineups
West Brom: Wildsmith, Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles, Mowatt, Swift, Fellows, Johnston, Grant, Molumby
Sunderland: Patterson, Browne, Mepham O’Nien, Hume, Neil, Le Fee, Jobe Roberts, Mundle, Mayenda
Where to watch?
Sunderland’s clash against West Brom will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football on Saturday, 5 April, with the game set to kick off at 12:30 pm GMT.
Prediction – West Brom 1-1 Sunderland
West Brom have an excellent record against the teams above them, and with Tony Mowbray in charge, he will know the areas he needs to focus on to nullify the Sunderland threat.
It promises to be a tight encounter that is rather likely to end in a draw.