On Friday, at 17:30, Huddersfield and WBA meet in the 45th round of the Championship, in a duel that can bring the Birmingham team back to the Premier League. It’s only a matter of time before “The Baggies” mathematically secures their promotion!
WBA is in 2nd place (goal difference 74-41) and has the second best attack in the league, after Brentford. Following Leeds, who also returns on the first stage, the WBA is in good shape and comes to attack Huddersfield. The host team is tormented by the prospect of relegation and is only in 20th place (goal average 49-65), with 12 victories in 44 matches and only 3 points above the line.
However, the hosts can be dangerous through the top scorer Ahearne-Grant, author of 18 successes this season. Curiously, no other WBA footballer came close to this milestone, but Austin and Robson-Kanu (10 goals each) remain very dangerous opponents for the host defense. In the last stages, Huddersfield has a strange balance: it did not score in the previous four stages, but it lost only one match! So, after 3 white draws in a row, the defense seems to be its strong point. It was 0-0 with Preston, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday, but also 0-2 at home, with Luton.
The WBA comes after draws with Blackburn Rovers (1-1) and Fulham (0-0), but they were much higher level opponents. Instead, the categorical victories with Sheffield Wedneday (3-0), Hull (4-2) and Derby (2-0) showed that the offensive strength of the WBA should not be underestimated. Being a decisive match, we expect the visitors to attack from the start and impose their game.
Only one draw has been recorded in the last 12 direct duels;
In the round it was 4-2 for the WBA, at home, after Huddersfield led 2-1 at the break;
In the last 5 direct duels, both teams got two victories and one match was equal;
At home, Huddersfield have won only 7 matches out of 22 this season and have lost 9;
WBA has the best record in the Championship in away matches: 12 successes in 22 matches;
PREDICTION: West Brom to win @ 1,72
