The 2026/27 Season starts for the Baggies on Saturday as they face off in the Carabao Cup First Round at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. With a place in the second round at stake, Albion will be eager to start the new season on a positive note and build early momentum ahead of the Championship campaign.
Our opponents have been relegated to League Two last season and not long ago they was a Championship side that beat us 3-1 back on Good Friday in 2023 in our last meeting at Rotherham. They are in difficulties by not having a squad ready for their campaign and it might be a difficult season for them in League Two.
I’m not thinking this would be a easy win for the Baggies on Saturday as surprises could happen as we do tend to not get results away from home against lesser opponents. However can we get past the first round for the first time since 2022.
Player To Watch – Rotherham
Paul Mullin is likely to be an attacking threat on Saturday, the experienced striker has built a reputation as one of the most prolific goalscorers outside the two best divisions and knows exactly where the back of the net is.
Mullin enjoyed an excellent 2023/24 campaign with Wrexham, scoring 24 goals in 38 appearances as the Welsh side secured promotion to League One. His movement, clinical finishing and ability to find space inside the penalty area makes him a constant danger to opposition defences.
If Albion are to progress to the second round of the Carabao Cup, they will need to keep Mullin quiet as the striker has shown throughout his career that he can punish even the smallest defensive lapse.
Player To Watch – West Brom
One Albion player Rotherham’s defence will need to keep a close eye on is Barney Stewart. The summer signing has already made his mark during Pre Season, impressing with goals against Bromley and Peterborough United last weekend. His sharp movement, composure in front of goal and willingness to press from the front have quickly caught the eye.
Stewart arrives into the new campaign full of confidence and will be hoping to carry this momentum into his first competitive appearance for the Baggies. If given this opportunity on Saturday, the striker has shown throughout pre-season that he has the quality to make a decisive impact and could prove to be the difference as Albion look to progress to the second round of the cup.
Line up V Rotherham
In the Line Up I rest key players for the opening league game next weekend at Norwich, in goal I have Matt Ingram in for his first debut at the club, in defence Alex Williams and Conor Townsend comes back into the starting 11 since his return and Chris Mepham and Nat Philips.
In Midfield I have Jayson Molumby and Harry Whitwell and in attacking wingers I have Mikey Johnston and Ollie Bostock and as strikers I have Barney Stewart and Aune Heggebo.
Prediction V Rotherham
Predictions for the first competitive game of the season over Rotherham in the Cup. I’m not expecting an easy game or a difficult game here. Lets see how I get on here.
It be a tricky few opening moments as Rotherham would be all over the park trying to spring a early goal and that moment would come in the 10th minute as Paul Mullin would strike with a header to put his hosts in the lead.
It would be hard to get back into this one as Rotherham would hold their lead into half time.
In the second half there be a few changes and in the opening 5 minutes in the Second half Jimmy Jay-Morgan does what he does best as Ollie Bostock would play it square for Morgan to shoot to carry on where he left off from Pre-Season to give us the equaliser.
Rotherham will find joy from a set-piece to take the lead for the second time. Kieran Ngwenya pulling off a clinical header to put his side back in front to make it 2-1.
Then in the 70th minute mark, we see new signing Felix Horn Myhre come on and he takes a shot in the first few minutes to put his new side back level pegging with just 20 minutes left to play, then moments later we see Ollie Bostock make an attempt and his strike puts us 3-2 up.
In added time, the Baggies get one better with Jimmy Jay-Morgan getting a brace to start the 2026/27 campaign in style and to give us a 4-2 win over Rotherham in what would be a worrying game I think but would pull it off at the end.
Prediction: Rotherham 2-4 West Brom
Goalscorers for West Brom: Jimmy-Jay Morgan (x2), Felix Horn Myhre, Ollie Bostock