After Wednesday’s night draw over Birmingham City, The Baggies return to the Hawthorns as they take on Swansea City who are lower in the table as we look to kickstart our season here.
It’s nearly half way through the Championship season already and there has been pressure amongest Ryan Mason, the players and recruitment. It has been a difficult season for the Baggies so far despite our good start to the season form has dipped and have won 2 in our last 9 games and sit 17th in the Championship.
With our worst start to the season in 3 years, can the Baggies start to pick up a win at The Hawthorns over Swansea City and give our fans a lift. Our opponents have lost four in a row but the odds on Saturday are backing us to get a result here.
Player To Watch – Swansea City
Another standout figure for Swansea right now is striker Zan Vipotnik, who has already hit eight goals this season and is well on track to break into double figures before the halfway stage. His clinical finishing has been evident ever since his time at Maribor and Bordeaux, where he consistently showed he only needs one chance to punish a defence. If he’s given space in and around the box on Saturday afternoon, he could easily be the difference-maker, and you can imagine Albion’s backline will already be busy working out how to keep him quiet at The Hawthorns.
What makes Vipotnik even more dangerous is the variety in his goals — he’s comfortable running in behind with pace, can drop deep to link play, and isn’t afraid to strike early if given half a yard. Swansea have been building their attacks around him more and more in recent weeks, and you get the feeling he’s only just warming up. If he finds rhythm early on, it could be a long afternoon for our defenders, and shutting down the supply into him might prove just as important as marking him directly. All eyes will certainly be on the young Slovenian to see whether we can keep him quiet or whether he adds to an already impressive tally.
Player To Watch – West Brom
For Albion, Alex Mowatt stands out as a key figure going into the 2025–26 campaign, having sharpened his all-round game and grown into one of the most influential midfielders in the squad. His distribution remains top class — able to switch play, break lines and control the rhythm of matches with real maturity — but it’s his increased goal threat this season that really makes him dangerous.
With a couple of goals and assists already under his belt, he’s showing the confidence to drive forward, take responsibility in possession and look for that killer pass when the moment comes. If Mowatt is allowed to dictate play in the middle third, Albion have every chance of stamping authority on the game early.
My Line Up V Swansea City
Line up on Saturday, it would look the same but Ryan Mason would go for the same formation. I would have the same back four and in midfield I have Mowatt and Diakite in attack Karlan Grant, Isaac Price and Mikey Johnston just go behind Aune Heggebo as lone striker.
Prediction V Swansea City
Predictions over Swansea City, last time out against Birmingham City was a 1-1 draw and before the game I predicted a goal fest with a 3-3 draw. Lets see how I pan out this one.
I think it be a quiet 20 minutes of the game with both teams trying to cancel each other out with both keepers making stops to deny the opener. Near half time the deadlock would be broken and it be a move by Karlan Grant who would take a shot that would go past the Swans keeper to put us ahead.
In the second half, an early Baggies corner from Mowatt would then lead for Isaac Price to do what does best to give us the second goal of the game to put us 2-0 up. Around the 62nd minute mark Swansea would get one back with Zan Vipotnik scoring from a header through a Swansea throw in to give them something to play for.
Swansea would try and find a equaliser and it be a nervy 25 minutes left of the game plus added time both teams wouldn’t score again and it would be the Baggies taking a narrow 2-1 win at The Hawthorns this weekend.
Prediction: West Brom 2-1 Swansea City
Goalscorers for West Brom: Karlan Grant, Isaac Price
Goalscorers for Swansea City: Zan Vipotnik
A 2-1 win here I am going for, I do feel it be a nervy game against a team lower than us in the table and I do expect Swansea could be a tough test as we often don’t play well against them but lets see what happens I think we can get a result over the line and hopefully a good three points at The Hawthorns.