Prediction: West Brom vs Wolves

Verdict: West Brom double chance

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Unibet

Knowing that they need to pick up maximum points on Monday evening, West Brom will host rivals Wolves from behind closed doors at The Hawthorns.

West Brom

Starting with the hosts, while West Brom might have been moments away from another crucial victory last weekend, it was late heartbreak on the road for Sam Allardyce’s side. Watching Midlands rivals Aston Villa snatch a last-gasp point thanks to a costly mistake at the back, The Baggies find themselves on the verge of being hit with an immediate Championship return. Although the one-time England boss might have seen his side enjoy a recent boost since returning from the international break, they do open Monday’s meeting sat nine points adrift of safety. With it appearing that their thumping back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Southampton at the start of April might have been a minor bounce, West Brom should at least take some solace from their rugged displays on home soil. Including that 3-0 win against The Sanis in their last contest at The Hawthorns, Monday’s hosts have lost just one of their previous six Premier League home fixtures.

Team News

Branislav Ivanovic is out with a hamstring injury and will not return for the Baggies before the end of the season.

While Robert Snodgrass might be inching towards a return, the former West Ham midfielder isn’t expected to feature on Monday evening.

Wolves

As for the visitors, although Wolves might have managed to land back-to-back 1-0 wins against Fulham and an already relegated Sheffield United last month, The Golds were last seen putting in a woeful display. Coming under real scrutiny for their display on home soil last weekend, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side were hit with a dreadful 4-0 drumming at the hands of relegation outsiders Burnley. Enduring by far their worst campaign since making their Premier League return back in 2018, Wolves almost find themselves sat in Premier League limbo. Almost destined for a bottom-half finish this season and with very little left to play for, the former Europa League outfit have failed to win any of their last six meetings against sides from outside the bottom-three. Desperate to try and find a real boost on their travels, Santo should at least take some solace from his side’s rugged displays on the road. Wolves have lost just a pair of their last nine matchups away from Molineux across all formats.

Team News

Attacking talisman Raul Jimenez is still out with a fractured skull, although Wolves are confident he will feature before the end of the campaign.

Jonny (knee), Pedro Neto (knee), Joao Moutinho (ankle) and Marcal (groin) are all also out on Monday.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off back in January, West Brom picked up an action-packed 3-2 win on their travels.
• In fact, West Brom have won each of their last three straight meetings against Monday’s guests.
• Each of The Baggies’ last four Premier League contests have finished with over 2.5 goals.
• Hit with a 4-0 defeat against Burnley last time out, that was Wolves’ heaviest home Premier League defeat since March 2012, when they lost 5-0 to Manchester United.
• Wolves have managed to record more than a single strike in just one of their last nine Premier League matchups.

Conclusion

After being left heartbroken at Villa Park last weekend, West Brom will be desperate to cash in on a downbeat Wolves on Monday evening. Eventually having to settle for a 2-2 draw on their travels, Sam Allardyce’s side know that time is really starting to tick away and they’re hanging onto their Premier League status by a thread. Looking to find a similar level that saw them breeze past Chelsea and Southampton last month, the one-time England boss might be smelling a chance on home soil. With very little to play for after a sluggish campaign, Wolves might still be reeling from their woeful 4-0 defeat against Burnley last time out. Managing to land that action-packed 3-2 win when the two sides faced off back in January, don’t be surprised to see The Baggies leave Monday’s derby with something to show for their troubles.

Verdict: West Brom double chance

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Unibet