West Bromwich Albion – Blackburn

The neighbours in the standings will both score in the head to head encounter

In one of the most important encounters of the Championship game day, the teams that are contenders for the play-off places will meet. In fact, West Bromwich and Blackburn currently occupy the fifth-sixth positions, which makes their personal meeting a classic "match for six points". West Bromwich are in the Championship for the fourth consecutive year, although they were unchanged in the Premier League from the 2010/2011 season to the 2017/2018 season. The Thrashers' talent pool does not allow them to fight for outright promotion at the moment, so retaining their current positioning would be the ideal outcome for them. Blackburn have a richer history than the upcoming opponent but stay in the Championship for the seventh season in a row. Last season Rovers finished in nineteenth position, so the current sixth place looks like a good, albeit intermediate, achievement. Bookmakers have identified the home team as favourites for the upcoming meeting, offering odds of 1.83 on their victory. West Bromwich have won only six times in the last 26 matches: five at home and one away. It would seem that the disgusting statistics is slightly brightened up by the abundance of draws, of which the Thrashers have collected thirteen during this period. The Thrashers need to win at home to stay in the top 6, so they will play from a position of strength on Wednesday. Over the last two and a half weeks, West Bromwich have won both matches at home. One contained three goals, the second - six. The first round game between the rivals at the Hawthorns ended 0-0. However, a draw outcome this time will not suit anyone. West Bromwich and Blackburn are unlikely to reach the fourth position in the Championship, but they are quite capable of losing their current places in the top 6. There is a very wide list of contenders, trailing by a few points. Blackburn will take a risk in the away confrontation. The team lost four of the past five rounds, and then also dropped out of the FA Cup. If not to reverse the course of the season, first of all, in emotional terms, then naked ambition may lead to nothing. Let's bet that the rivals will exchange goals, as in the four cases before the "dry" first round of the current championship.