West Brom v Brighton Tips: Can the Baggies book a date with Derby?
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Nothing could separate West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion when the sides met at the Amex Stadium 11 days ago. Something will have to give at the Hawthorns tonight.
Even if it takes 120 minutes and penalties there will be a winner in the West Midlands. But who will take the spoils and book a home date with Derby County in the fifth round of the FA Cup?
Match Odds
These two may be a division apart but Brighton’s poor away record could be a leveller. The Seagulls have won just six times on the road since promotion to the Premier League in 2017.
Two of those successes have come in the FA Cup and they start at 7/5 tonight. West Brom suffered their first defeat at the Hawthorns in over three months last time out against Middlesbrough.
They’re 2/1 to put that right with a win, while it’s 21/10 about the draw. Two changed sides hint towards a lack of rhythm in the play, so we go 29/20 about a Draw and Under 2.5 Goals after the initial tie ended 0-0.
Talking Tactics
Both managers could make any number of alterations to their usual starting XIs. That means Sam Field, Rekeem Harper, Kyle Edwards and Rayhaan Tulloch may all earn recalls for the Baggies.
Cup goalkeeper Jonathan Bond is also likely to start in place of Sam Johnstone, while Hal Robson-Kanu should partner Jonathan Leko up-front ahead of Wes Hoolahan who’ll sit just behind.
West Brom look to have the greater flair centrally. But Brighton could have the edge on the flanks with record-signing Alireza Jahanbakhsh and £15m man Jurgen Locadia providing width.
Anthony Knockaert will provide the impetus in a five-man midfield, while a much-changed defence could include Bernardo at left-back and veteran ace Bruno on the right.
Goalscorer Odds
Seagulls star Glenn Murray is unlikely to start but remains the likeliest anytime scorer at 11/8. He’s followed by Florian Andone at 6/4 and the dangerous Locadia at 23/10.
Frenchman Knockaert could be the better play at 7/2. The 27-year-old is a danger from set-piece situations and netted first in the last round against AFC Bournemouth. We go 10/1 about a repeat.
Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez head the betting for the hosts at 7/4 apiece. But like Murray, both are unlikely to feature – at least from the off.
That leads us to young pretender Sam Field. The 20-year-old netted against Bolton Wanderers last month and is 5/1 to double his seasonal tally. Robson-Kanu is a likelier shout at 12/5.
Match Info
Where: The Hawthorns
When: 8:05pm
How to watch: BBC One
Click here for the latest Premier League odds
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
