West Brom v Swansea predictions: Swans ready to add to Baggies' woes

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

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 8pm Monday

Best bet

Swansea draw no bet
1pt 3-1 Paddy Power, Betfair

Team news

West Brom
Daryl Dike and Matty Phillips are out injured but Jake Livermore is back from suspension.

Swansea
Nathanael Ogbeta is out but he is Swansea's only absentee.

Match preview

West Brom were promotion contenders as recently as mid-December but have won just one of their last 11 Championship fixtures and are hard to fancy at odds-on when they host Swansea.

Valerien Ismael paid the price for the side’s poor form in early February but things have not improved under new manager Steve Bruce, with the Baggies taking one point and scoring just one goal in his four games in the dugout.

Their first goal under the new boss came in their last outing against Middlesbrough but they conceded twice in ten second-half minutes after a Chris Wilder tactical tweak changed the game and the Baggies fell to another defeat.

This is a team in freefall and they look short enough in this encounter.

Bruce’s side face a Swansea squad who have struggled with consistency this season. The Swans have won two of their last four games but also suffered 3-0 and 4-0 defeats, the latter coming against Sheffield United last time out.

Ben Cabango and Joel Piroe have been among the standouts for the Welsh side this season, with the latter netting 12 times in the league this season.

Russell Martin, who took over at the start of the season from MK Dons, has one of the most defined playing styles of any Championship manager and his emphasis on free flowing, passing football has had mixed results.

Martin’s side have had more possession in all but two of their 31 league games this season so expect them to dominate the ball in this one.

In contrast, West Brom’s January signing of Andy Carroll demonstrates their desire to play a more direct brand of football.

Swansea came out 2-1 winners when these sides met earlier in the season, netting two second-half goals after Karlan Grant opened the scoring after just a minute.

The Swans do need to improve their away form if they are to make any use of their games in hand on those around them, they have played the fewest in the second tier.

That improvement can begin here at the Hawthorns, where the contrasting styles of the two teams will make it an intriguing watch.

Swansea have had three days extra recovery from their last game after their midweek tie with Bournemouth was postponed due to storm damage to their stadium.

With a fresher squad and against a team scratching around for form, the Swans can pick up a win here.

Key stat

West Brom have won one of their last 11 league games.

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