Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
West Bromwich Albion appear to be on a downward trajectory. They recently lost to direct competitors Watford (1:2) and allowed them to move ahead in the table. Although Bristol City will not overtake West Bromwich Albion yet, a win could see them close the gap to just two points.
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion are in dire need of a victory. Drawing matches has become a common occurrence for the club, with only Preston North End having the same number of draws as West Bromwich (11) this season. Even at The Hawthorns, they struggle to secure wins. Before their victory over Coventry City (2:0) on 11 December, they had endured five consecutive draws spanning over two months. However, breaching their defence is nearly impossible, having conceded five goals in 10 home matches—four of which were against Norwich City (2:2) and Sheffield United (2:2).
Bristol City
Bristol City, conversely, have struggled to convert chances into goals, even when opportunities are presented. In their previous fixture against Queens Park Rangers, the team commanded 70% possession and managed 17 (5) shots with an xG of 1.99, yet their only goal came from a direct free-kick. In contrast, their opponents executed a single devastating counter-attack and scored a spectacular goal (0.16 xGA). This season, Bristol City's performance has been slightly below expectations, with 26 goals scored instead of the expected 29.16 xG.
West Bromwich Albion vs Bristol City Prediction
Considering Bristol City's inability to score against West Bromwich Albion in their last four meetings (one draw and three losses), we anticipate a low-scoring match. However, we're avoiding backing a straightforward win for the hosts, as the scoreline has been 0:0 in six of their fixtures this season.
