The Baggies face Oxford United in the Championship this Saturday afternoon at The Hawthorns, after a late defeat at Charlton on Tuesday evening.
Last time out, we was beaten by Charlton Athletic in midweek as the hosts scored the only goal of the game in the final minute of added tie at The Valley, a result that now leaves us winless in four games.
Oxford United who are visiting also suffered a 3-0 defeat to Stoke City at home, the Baggies are now in 15th in the Championship who are looking to try and turn their season around before the international break next weekend.
Player To Watch – Oxford United
Will Lankshear would be my player to watch as why are ex players who come back to play us always have one thing to come and haunt us and score. I think Lankshear would be looking to be one of those strikers to score past us on Saturday.
He does bring a sharp, instinctive presence in front of goal that can make a real difference in tight games. The one striker I would of brought back again this season who is on loan at Oxford from Tottenham he has shown his ability to adapt to senior football, combining intelligent movement with a poacher’s instinct.
Beyond his ability, Lankshear work rate and willingness to press from the front fit perfectly into Oxford’s style under Gary Rowett. He does not wait for chances, he helps create them through his clever link-up play. His enthusiasm also injects urgency into Oxford’s attack, often lifting the tempo when the team needs a spark.
Against us, Oxford would need moments of precision in the final third, and with Lankshear’s composure under pressure that makes him a likely player to deliver those chances. Whether through a decisive goal or a piece of intelligent play, he has the potential to be the difference maker in this fixture.
Player To Watch – West Brom
Mikey Johnston should be the player to watch because he offers us a creative spark and directness that can unsettle any defence. Johnston brings top level experience and technical quality, which has made him one of our dangerous attacking outlets. His pace, close control, and ability to take on defenders one-on-one makes him a constant threat down the wings, capable of tuning a quiet game on it’s head with a single Ryan Mason’s moment of brilliance.
What sets apart is his flair and unpredictability. His comfortable cutting inside to shoot of drifting wide to deliver dangerous crosses. His confidence on the ball often draws multiple defenders, creating space for teamteams like Aune Heggebo and Josh Maja to exploit.
Line Up V Oxford United
The line up definitely needs changing for this weekend’s game over Oxford United, it changed at Charlton but we need more than just one striker up front.
I have a back three of Bielik, Phillips and Mepham and in midfield I have Diakite and Mowatt with Molumby and Collyer currently still injured. In attack I have Iling-Junior and Mikey Johnston on the wing with Isaac Price just in behind Josh Maja and a first start of the season for Daryl Dike. We are lacking goals of late and I’ll bring in Dike and Maja into the side that would help us start firing.
Prediction V Oxford United
Last time out I predicted Charlton Athletic to beat us at The Valley and they did by just 1 goal as I on the match preview predicted a 2-0 defeat to the newly promoted side.
With my predictions been near of recent times, I think this would be a difficult game and if Ryan Mason actually comes onto this site maybe he should start looking at the line-up and I have got more attacking players to start and dropping Heggebo would be a first.
I say it be a very quiet 25 minutes with both sides trying to push a first, but around the 33rd minute the deadlock be broken and it be from a free-kick for the Baggies. Mowatt’s free-kick would hit the crossbar but the ball would go to the right player as Mikey Johnston would take on one of the Oxford defenders and would have a go to give us the lead.
However the lead won’t last as around the 40th minute mark, Oxford’s Lankshear would haunt us by scoring at The Hawthorns for Oxford following a header from a Stanley Mills cross to put the scoreline at 1-1 at half-time.
Second half, Oxford United would try and spring a few surprises for the Baggies and they would get a penalty in the 55th minute and Will Lankshear would be the one who have the ball on the spot and he would get his brace and put Oxford ahead at The Hawthorns. Home fans would then be booing after the goal knowing another bad afternoon in the office again.
Around the 67th minute, Oxford United’s day wouldn’t last long as Mikey Johnston would put in a cross for then Josh Maja to then strike to give the Baggies a equaliser. Then the scoreline would be 2-2 until the final minute as one side would take all three points, Oliver Bostock would come on in added time and within 2 minutes he would be the one who would score to give us all three points to have something to give for the international break. I think there be a late winner but with us been the ones who always concede late would be the ones to win this fixture with Ryan Mason being under pressure he would have a lift of his shoulders come Saturday.
Prediction: West Brom 3-2 Oxford United
Goalscorers for West Brom: Mikey Johnston, Josh Maja, Oliver Bostock
Goalscorers for Oxford United: Will Lankshear (X2)
If we all go out and put on attacking players on Saturday, I predict we would win this fixture I say we would concede a few goals as I say Oxford United would score a few if we play like we did over Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton we wouldn’t be getting anything out of this one.
I am hoping Mason drops Heggebo for this one and hopefully start Josh Maja and Daryl Dike they both available to start on the bench and should have 60-70 minutes in them, if they do start I think they would score a goal that would help us win this game and something to cheer for going into the International break. A defeat here then I be surprised if the board keep Ryan Mason on for the Coventry fixture.