West Brom predicted line-up v Watford: Frontmen pushing case for new partnership
Albion prepare for a huge clash in the race for survival in their penultimate home fixture of the season.
James Morrison hopes his Albion side can take their form and momentum into Tuesday’s crunch penultimate home fixture against Watford.
The Baggies have been inspired under the head coach and are eight matches unbeaten, a run that has taken them to the verge of Championship safety, with the asterisk of a potential EFL sanction.
Morrison will want to see more of the same from Saturday’s impressive display to win 2-0 at Preston’s Deepdale.
As a result there is a consideration for an unchanged line-up as the club hope for a boosted gate at The Hawthorns.
I can see merit in using the same 11 players that started up in Lancashire.
But the impression I get is that one very worthy change could be used to slightly tweak Morrison’s attack and pose the Hornets a different challenge on Tuesday night.
Saturday’s goal hero Daryl Dike did enough to merit a starting spot alongside fellow goalscorer Josh Maja.
That would mean the first time the pair have started together under Morrison or indeed this season, with Aune Heggebo dropping to the bench.
The Norwegian did little wrong on Saturday, indeed his fine touch was inch-perfect for Maja’s opening goal.
Heggebo is due a breather - he has played all season for Albion and was playing for former club Brann through last summer previously. It is also a quick turnaround from Saturday. Maja and Dike’s tails will be up after netting.
I would start them both against Ed Still’s out-of-form visitors.
Otherwise I think Morrison’s line-up selects itself off the back of the level of performance last time out.
Karlan Grant made a very welcome return as a late substitute and it would be good to see him receive more minutes here.
But I think the unusual look of Jayson Molumby out towards the right, where he can stretch the game but also have an impact centrally, is working well.
Check out Albion correspondent Lewis Cox’s predicted matchday squad below.
4-4-2:
Max O’Leary
Danny Imray
Nat Phillips
George Campbell
Callum Styles
Jayson Molumby
Ousmane Diakite
Alex Mowatt
Isaac Price
Josh Maja
Daryl Dike
Subs: Griffiths (gk), Gilchrist, Mepham, Taylor, Grant, Bany, Bostock, Heggebo, Sule.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.