West Bromwich Albion vs Leeds Predictions

• West Brom won their opening league game 3-1 at Queens Park Rangers
• Leeds were held to a 3-3 draw by newly-promoted Portsmouth and may be without key man Georginio Rutter
• Josh Maja grabbed a hat-trick at QPR with a devastating display of penalty-box finishing

Back the Baggies to make it two from two

Two clubs that lost in last season’s Championship play-offs clash at The Hawthorns on Saturday lunchtime when Wes Brom host Leeds United.

The mood in both camps could hardly be more contrasting at the moment with the Baggies basking in the afterglow of their 3-1 opening-round win at Queens Park Rangers while Leeds lick their wounds after a couple of disappointing home results.

The Whites were hot favourites to begin with a win at home to newly-promoted Portsmouth, but could only claim a point from a patchy performance. The mood at Elland Road then took a major nosedive on Wednesday when a Middlesbrough side with more changes bundled Daniel Farke’s men out of the Carabao Cup 3-0.

Replacing Rutter won’t be easy for Leeds

Worse news was to follow when it emerged that Brighton had triggered a release clause in Georginio Rutter’s contract that will probably leave Leeds without their creative driving force this weekend.

Rutter’s absence could seriously blunt their attack, which was led capably by Mateo Joseph against Pompey, and there remain doubts over whether Joel Piroe can do the job of a number 10.

Meanwhile, Albion have potentially found the answer to their goalscoring problems of last season with the return to form and fitness of Josh Maja. The Nigerian scored a superb treble last weekend and was rested, alongside the other 10 starters, for WBA’s 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood in midweek.

Repeat of last season’s score would be no shock 

Carlos Corberan won’t shed many tears about that result if his side are challenging for promotion in April, and neither will Farke if Leeds are too, but right now this looks like being a tough match for the visitors in their current state.

Albion took four points off Leeds last season and won this corresponding fixture 1-0, which could be repeated if the home side play with the same energy and poise as they did last Saturday.