Stoke v West Brom predictions: In-form Baggies look hard for Stoke to stop

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

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 7.45pm Friday

Best bet

West Brom
1pt 7-5 Betfair

Team news

Stoke
Sam Clucas serves a one-match ban, Joe Allen (toe) has missed the last four games and Romaine Sawyers cannot face his parent club.

West Brom
Robert Snodgrass (ankle) and Matt Clarke (hamstring) are doubts and Dara O'Shea (ankle) is ruled out.

Match preview

West Brom endured six weeks without a victory at the end of their season-long stay in the Premier League but they are approaching two months without defeat in the Championship and can maintain their impressive start by defeating Stoke at the bet365 Stadium.

Valerien Ismael's side drew three successive matches after the international break but they returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at home to QPR last Friday and were back to their best in a 4-0 demolition of Cardiff in the Welsh capital on Tuesday.

Albion are showing no signs of fatigue and have the luxury of high-quality attackers Matt Phillips and Grady Diangana battling to force themselves back into the starting eleven.

While West Brom's depth makes is easier to cope with the busy schedule, Stoke are facing a shortage of senior central midfielders with Joe Allen injured, Romaine Sawyers ineligible and Sam Clucas suspended.

Sawyers and Clucas were involved in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Preston which was a frustrating outcome for the Potters, who took the lead and won the shot count 21 to nine. And their absences necessitate a rejig which could leave Stoke unbalanced for one of their toughest home games of the season.

Michael O'Neill has the option of playing creative midfielder Mario Vrancic a little deeper or shifting left wing-back Josh Tymon inside – as was the case when Stoke triumphed 3-1 at Watford in the EFL Cup third round.

However, his team may struggle to match their midweek performance and could become the latest victims of West Brom's relentless promotion push.

Key stat

West Brom are unbeaten in their last 11 Championship fixtures.

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