BETTING GUIDE: West Bromwich Albion Vs Middlesbrough, match preview, team news and betting tip

West Bromwich Albion hosts Middlesbrough in a Championship clash that carries significance at both ends of the table.

While the visitors remain firmly in the automatic promotion hunt, the hosts are focused on stabilizing their season and pulling further clear of relegation danger.

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With contrasting league positions but mixed recent form on both sides, this fixture shapes up as one of the more difficult games of the round to call from a betting perspective.

West Bromwich Albion comes into this contest sitting 18th in the table with 31 points from 26 matches, seven points above the relegation zone. Their recent league form has been inconsistent.

In their last five Championship outings, the Baggies have picked up one win and suffered four defeats, scoring four goals and conceding seven in that spell.

Home form, however, has been a relative source of encouragement. West Brom have lost just two of their 12 home league games this season, collecting six wins and four draws, a record that underlines why The Hawthorns remains a difficult place for visiting sides.

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The Baggies also begin a new chapter under recently appointed head coach Eric Ramsay.

That change may provide a short-term lift, especially after their morale-boosting FA Cup success last weekend, where they drew 2-2 away at Swansea City before progressing on penalties.

Injury-wise, West Brom are missing defender Alex Williams and several midfield options, while attacking responsibility is expected to fall on Aune Heggebø, the club’s top scorer with eight league goals, supported creatively by Mikey Johnston.

Middlesbrough arrive in second place with 46 points from 26 games, six behind leaders Coventry City and narrowly ahead of the chasing pack. Despite their lofty position, recent form has been patchy.

Over their last five league matches, Boro have scored four goals and conceded four, winning just once in that run.

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Their standout performance came in a 4-0 home demolition of Southampton, but that was sandwiched between narrow defeats to Hull City and Derby County.

Away from home, Middlesbrough have been competitive rather than dominant, drawing four of their away league fixtures this season.

Injuries are a major concern for the visitors, with several defensive regulars sidelined, including Darragh Lenihan and Callum Brittain.

Nevertheless, Morgan Whittaker has been the key attacking threat, leading the scoring charts for Boro with 10 league goals, while Hayden Hackney provides balance and creativity from midfield.

Looking at the head-to-head record, Middlesbrough has enjoyed the upper hand in recent meetings, winning four of the last six encounters.

They claimed a 2-1 home victory earlier this season and have kept three clean sheets against West Brom across that run, pointing towards typically tight, low-margin contests.

Key Betting Pointers:

West Brom have lost just two of 12 home league matches this season.

Middlesbrough has won only one of their last five Championship games.

All of West Brom’s league draws this season have come at home.

Four of Middlesbrough’s seven league draws have been recorded away from home.

With West Brom generally stronger at The Hawthorns and Middlesbrough showing signs of vulnerability despite their league position, this looks like a game where neither side will want to take excessive risks.

Given the visitors’ injury issues and the hosts’ tendency to draw at home, a stalemate appears a sensible betting angle.

Prediction: Draw

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