West Bromwich Albion vs Aston Villa Predictions

• West Brom have scored in each of their last four Premier League matches.
• Aston Villa have failed to score just twice in 11 Premier League games this term.
• West Brom have notched exactly one goal in each of their last four games, while Villa have hit the net exactly once in three of their last four matches.
• Aston Villa have won only two of their last seven Premier League assignments.

WBA’s unexpected point

West Brom secured an unexpected point with a coupon-busting 1-1 draw against a frustrated Manchester City side at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening, in what proved to be Slaven Bilic’s last game in charge.

The Croatian was removed from office and swiftly replaced by the experienced Sam Allardyce this week, and the Baggies will hope to harness some of the fabled new manager bounce when they host local rivals Aston Villa at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

It’s at the Hawthorns that Albion have enjoyed most of their success this term, and WBA have gathered five of their seven points since their promotion so far on their own patch.

Villa’s final third frustrations

Aston Villa were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home by Burnley in their mid-week test, though the Villains’ incredible 27 attempts on the night deserved more than a share of the spoils against a Clarets team that had Nick Pope in inspired form between the sticks.

That was just the second time in 11 Premier League assignments this season where Villa failed to find the net, though we expect Dean Smith’s side to rediscover their touch in the final third against West Brom.

Villa have been one of the Premier League’s most potent forces on the road this term, and their return of four wins from five away matches since the summer highlights how lethal an outfit they can be on their travels.

Goals likely at both ends

Sam Allardyce will be keen to start plugging holes in a Baggies defence that holds the Premier League’s worst defensive record as soon as possible, though new tactical instructions need time to bed in, and we expect West Brom to concede on Sunday.

Albion have developed a knack for notching themselves in recent weeks however, and their run of scoring in four successive games suggests they can find the net against a Villa team the shipped goals in six of their last nine matches.

While Allardyce’s methods will need time to take hold, his new players will be desperate to impress their new boss on Sunday, and with the new manager bounce a major factor, our 1-1 correct score prediction tips Albion to start Allardyce’s tenure with a derby draw.

Villa’s haul of just two victories from seven Premier League tussles will have left their confidence a little fragile and having scored exactly one goal in three of their last four games, a 1-1 draw looks a likely outcome when the Villains line up against a West Brom team that scored exactly once in each of their last four matches.

West Brom injuries and team news

Matheus Pereira is suspended and will miss Sunday’s game, while Conor Townsend and Kyle Bartley will also be absent through injury.

Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Field will hope to return to the Baggies’ squad following recent layoffs however.

Aston Villa injuries and team news

Trezeguet is still injured and won’t feature for Villa, though Matty Cash and Douglas Luiz are back from suspension.

Wesley and Ezri Konsa will hope to be involved in some capacity too. The latter was a late withdrawal from the Villa squad ahead of their draw with Burnley in mid-week.