West Brom will fancy their chances of claiming the local bragging rights when they play host to Black Country rivals Wolves on Monday, although it may still prove too late in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The match at the Hawthorns kicks off at 18:00 and will be the first of two Premier League games taking place on Monday, with Burnley’s home clash with Champions League-chasing West Ham set to round-off the weekend’s action at 20:15.
Albion to Keep Faint Survival Hopes Alive
West Brom head into Monday’s match sitting 19th in the standings and a full nine points adrift of safety, although their recent results and performances have not been those befitting of a side destined for the drop.
Indeed, Sam Allardyce has seen his side take seven points from their last four fixtures, a run that includes a shock 5-2 victory at otherwise defensively strong Chelsea, as well as a comprehensive 3-0 triumph over Southampton in their last home match.
Wolves could provide the ideal opponents for Albion, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost the last three meetings between the two teams, while they are without a win on their last nine visits to the Hawthorns – a run that stretches back to 1996.
Mid-table Wanderers also come into Monday’s game on the back of a 4-0 home thrashing against Burnley, while Nuno has confirmed he has numerous injury problems to contend with, which he says will clearly be an “advantage to our opponents”.
West Brom’s greater need for the points should also put them in the ascendancy on Monday and Albion look good value at 17/10 to win the match.
Depleted Hammers to Bounce Back
West Ham have been the surprise package in the Premier League this season, although their Champions League hopes have been dented over recent weeks by back-to-back defeats to Newcastle United and Chelsea.
The Hammers also have injury concerns to contend with ahead of their trip to Burnley, as Aaron Cresswell, Declan Rice and Arthur Masuaku all remain sidelined, although Fabian Balbuena is available after having his sending-off against Chelsea overturned.
Boss David Moyes has also refused to rule out forward Michail Antonio from making a return following a hamstring injury, and his potential involvement could prove crucial, particularly as he scored the winner when the two sides met earlier in the season.
Burnley did win 4-0 at Wolves last time out – a result which has all but guaranteed their Premier League status for another season.
However, Sean Dyche’s side are without a win in their last eight home matches across all competitions and West Ham look well placed to capitalise on that poor record, with an away victory being available at 7/5.
Lingard to Maintain Impressive Form
If West Ham are to return to winning ways on Monday, then on-loan Manchester United ace Jesse Lingard is likely to play a major role.
The England international has been directly involved in 12 goals from his 11 appearances since arriving at the London Stadium in January, including strikes in his last two away outings at Newcastle and Wolves.
Lingard is certainly a man in form and he will fancy his chances of getting the better of a Clarets defence that has only kept one clean sheet across their last 11 matches at Turf Moor.
The 28-year-old is priced at 5/4 to be an anytime scorer on Monday and he must surely be considered a serious option.
*All odds correct at time of writing
