The Baggies are at The Hawthorns this Saturday as they take on Oxford United in the EFL Championship and are looking to keep their place in the play-off positions.
Last time out the Baggies travelled to Millwall and secured a point with a 1-1 draw at The Den. Oxford United was beaten 2-0 to Portsmouth who we beat 5-1 last month and we are looking to secure a result here that could help us get our season back on track.
Oxford United drew to us back in October with a late goal from Oxford’s Dane Scarlett earnt us a point at the Kassam Stadium.
Player To Watch – Oxford United
He was on one of my Football Manager saves at Charlton and with 9 clean sheets to his name this season and a number of player of the match performances Jamie Cumming is worth a shout.
Whenever Alex Palmer left, I thought we could get him in with competition to Josh Griffiths, he has so far had a good season at Oxford and looks set to keep them in the Championship for a 2nd season.
He has 69% save percentage and I think some of our attacking players in Adam Armstrong, Tom Fellows and Grady Diangana need to know that Cumming would be hard work when they come to The Hawthorns on Saturday.
Facing a team like West Brom, known for their attacking threats, Cumming’s shot-stopping abilities and command of the penalty area will be crucial in determining the match’s outcome.
Player To Watch – West Brom
Ousmane Diakité is my player to watch for the Baggies on Saturday as they face Oxford. He has improved since joining over the summer and since being paired up with Molumby he has turned into a decent player after having a few setbacks in his first few months in the Midlands.
He was one of the key players in the last fixture against Millwall, in the upcoming match against Oxford United, Diakité’s role will be pivotal. His ability to disrupt opposition play and shield the defense makes him a key player to watch. His physicality and tactical awareness are expected to be crucial in controlling the midfield and limiting Oxford’s attacking opportunities. He has also got the fans singing “He never gives the ball away” to the tune of Gareth Barry who stole a taxi in one of many Alan Pardew’s days in Barcelona.
My Line Up V Oxford United
I switch back to a 4-2-3-1 formation as this suits our team better, Josh Griffiths would come into goal with Ajayi and Heggem at centre back, I play the same midfield pairing with Diakite and Molumby who seem to work well when paired up, I put Grant and Fellows back in the line up and have Adam Armstrong as lone striker.
My Prediction V Oxford United
I was correct last weekend by predicting that we draw 1-1 to Millwall and said there be two goals in the second half but was in the first half however I did say Millwall would get the opening goal.
Here is what I think for this match, Baggies would come attacking in the first 15 minutes and Cumming would make two great saves to keep the game level in the opening moments, in the 25th minute mark Oxford would give us a surprise and score first with Ruben Rodrigues scoring outside the box to give the U’s the lead.
At added time before half time, the Baggies would level from a Tom Fellows corner that would land to Ajayi to header it but Cumming would make a save that would go back into the box and Grady Diangana would strike it from the rebound to get us level at half time.
In the Second Half, in the 47th minute Diakite would make a smart pass to Adam Armstrong who would deliver to give us a 2-1 lead after a scare in the first half, the Baggies are now in the lead.
Around the 50th minute 3 minutes after our second goal we would fire again with Karlan Grant smashing the ball into the top corner from outside the box to put the scoreline at 3-1.
It would stay 3-1 to the Baggies till the 74th minute mark when Mikey Johnston comes on and withing a few minutes from being on he would give us the 4th goal that would put a end to Oxford’s day and looking like three points is coming to us.
Near added time, Oxford would get a late goal but maybe not enough to come back from as Mark Harris would score with 2 minutes to go. There won’t be much after the goal as the Baggies would win this one by 4 goals to 2.
Prediction: West Brom 4-2 Oxford United
Goalscorers for West Brom: Grady Diangana, Adam Armstrong, Karlan Grant, Mikey Johnston
Goalscorers for Oxford United: Ruben Rodrigues, Mark Harris
A 4-2 scoreline here at The Hawthorns, I do feel there be a goalfest in this one as both teams do like to score goals, with Tony Mowbray in charge I do think his players would start to get suited to his style around this game and would start attacking but I do think Oxford would get some goals in this fixture and with us attacking from the second half after being 1-0 down before half time it be the Baggies who would go home with a 4-2 win here.