Easter Monday football in the Championship as the Baggies face relegation threatened Derby County at The Hawthorns.
Last time out was a 2-0 defeat at Coventry City as the Baggies play-off hopes are now in jeopardy and they are now 6 points behind with 3 games to go and it’s the impossible way to do it is by winning all 3 of our remaining fixtures and Coventry City have to not win any of their 3 remaining games where this is very unlikely but have to also hope for Bristol City’s fixtures as they have a difficult run-in.
Derby lost to Luton 1-0 on Good Friday and are now sitting 21st in the Championship and it’s also a must-win for them to secure Championship football for next season.
Player To Watch – Derby County
Jerry Yates should be the player to watch for Derby County against West Brom because he’s been a reliable goal threat all season, leading the line with energy, intelligence, and consistency.
His ability to press defenders, hold up the ball, and finish chances makes him a constant menace for any backline. Against a well-organized West Brom side, Yates’ movement off the ball and knack for finding space in the box could be key to unlocking their defense.
With 9 goals and 4 assists already this season, he’s proven he can deliver in big games—exactly the type of player Derby will look to in a high-stakes clash like this one.
Player To Watch – West Brom
Torbjørn Heggem player of the season for the Baggies should be the player to watch for West Brom against Derby County because of the calm authority he brings to the backline, especially in a high-pressure fixture like this.
He’s composed on the ball, strong in the air, and reads the game well, often snuffing out danger before it turns into a real threat. His ability to organize the defense and make timely interceptions or tackles could be the difference in a match where margins are tight. If Derby bring attacking intensity, Heggem’s defensive leadership will be crucial in keeping West Brom stable and giving them a platform to push forward.
Line Up V Derby County
I’m going for a 4-4-2 formation for this game and a few changes should be needed again, I have said Dike should be starting and a number of red cards we’ve received in the last few games first with Furlong, Molumby and now Callum Styles suspended for this fixture.
In defence Furlong and Bartley would keep their places and bring in Mason Holgate and have Heggem in left-back. Midfield Diakite and Isaac Price would come in defensive midfield, Tom Fellows and Karlan Grant would be in attack with Adam Armstrong and Daryl Dike as strikers.
Prediction V Derby County
Last time out I did predict West Brom would come away with victory over Coventry City with a 2-1 victory, I have lately said we would win in the last few games in this one over Derby County is kind of a must-win game if we do stand out a chance but need teams like Coventry to lose over Plymouth Argyle.
In this one over Derby County, I think we would try and use our home advantage against Derby try and break them and around the 30th minute mark the Baggies would try and convert with Karlan Grant effort where he would use the ball to give to Adam Armstrong to dispatch and give us the lead in the 30 minute mark.
At half time the Baggies would lead 1-0 to Derby County. In the second half, Derby would try and get one back and around the 55th minute mark they would find the equaliser with Jerry Yates finding his 10th goal of the season where he would fire past Josh Griffiths to make it 1-1.
We would try and attack after the setback but would miss a few chances and Derby would also try and find the winner around the end but Griffiths would make a few good saves and it would be another frustrating day for the Baggies as they would take the 19th draw of the season with my prediction being 1-1 for this game.
Prediction: West Brom 1-1 Derby County
Goalscorer for West Brom: Adam Armstrong
Goalscorer for Derby County: Jerry Yates
A 1-1 draw I’m going for as the Baggies are looking to end a really bad patch of form and I cannot see them winning this game as Derby County are looking to get a result to boost their survival hopes. Play-offs are pretty much still alive as Coventry have got Plymouth away as Plymouth have secured good results at their home ground especially against us and Sheffield United in recent times but a result over Coventry and us getting a kind of win where I say it’s unlikely could make us start believing again but it’s impossible. You never know as the Baggies can do impossible things such as the Great Escape in 2004-05 and nearly did it with Darren Moore in 2017-18.