West Brom v Huddersfield predictions: Baggies can enhance slim playoff hopes

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for West Brom v Huddersfield in the Championship on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 8pm Friday

Best bet

West Brom
1pt 17-20 general

Team news

West Brom
Daryl Dike (hamstring) is back in training but will need time to build up his match fitness. Alex Mowatt (hip) is a 'slight doubt' according to Albion boss Steve Bruce.

Huddersfield
Lewis O'Brien (knock) and Josh Koroma (illness) are doubts but Levi Colwill (illness) is ready to feature. Rolando Aarons, Alex Vallejo (both knee) and Ryan Schofield (shoulder) miss out.

Match preview

Championship promotion hopefuls West Brom have been dropping like a stone for much of 2022, but they stopped the rot with a 2-0 victory at Hull last Saturday and can move back into the top half by defeating Huddersfield at the Hawthorns.

At the halfway point of the season West Brom were fourth – two points outside the top two – while Huddersfield were down in tenth place.

However, the clubs have been heading in different directions since the turn of the year and it is third-placed Huddersfield, who are now sensing an opportunity to achieve automatic promotion.

The Terriers were knocked out of the FA Cup on Monday – losing 2-1 at Nottingham Forest – but they are unbeaten in 16 league games and are on a four-match Championship winning sequence, which is their best since the 2016-17 promotion-winning campaign.

Huddersfield manager Carlos Corberan is hoping for his players to move on quickly from the cup defeat to Forest, but Friday's game will be the Terriers' tenth since the start of February, and if there are a few tired legs and minds, it could make the task a lot harder.

West Brom have had a far less hectic schedule – playing six times since the start of February – and their well-deserved victory at Hull will have put a spring in their step.

Many more maximums will be needed if the Baggies are to threaten the playoffs but they have a good chance of making it back-to-back wins for the first time since December.

Key stat

West Brom have lost just two home league games this season.

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