West Bromwich Albion vs Barnsley Predictions

• West Brom have lost just one of their last five home games
• Barnsley are on a run of one win in twelve
• The Baggies have kept three clean sheets in five outings at the Hawthorns

Inconsistent Baggies playing for places

Steve Bruce has hardly taken to life as West Brom manager like a duck to water, but he knows it’s crucial his side win this one as they could potentially drop as low 13th with a defeat.

In fairness, the Baggies have been strong at the Hawthorns, losing just three times on home soil this season, with those defeats coming to the teams placed in 13th, 14th and 15th in the table.

Promoted pair Bournemouth and Fulham are among the teams to leave empty handed in recent weeks, while they have tightened up the defence, keeping three clean sheets in the last five outings.

Barnsley waving the white flag

Barnsley threw in the towel a few weeks ago in their fight against relegation, and they head to the Midlands on a dismal run of four successive defeats and just one win in twelve.

Martin Devaney is in caretaker charge at Oakwell but has seen his side lose to Blackpool and Preston, while the Tykes have registered just three victories all season against teams in the top half of the table.

The goals have dried up a touch too, with the Yorkshire side failing to net in three of their last eight and managing just 15 goals on the road all season – the joint lowest total in the Championship.

Assuming the right West Brom team tend up, as they do tend to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde, they should win this game to nil, with 2-0 my correct score prediction.