In what may turn out to be a crucial game in the race for promotion in England's second division, championship leaders West Bromwich Albion will host Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns on Tuesday.
Despite their recent 3-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday on September 28, the hosts have amassed 16 points from seven league games thus far. Meanwhile, the visitors, who defeated Stoke City 2-0 on Saturday, are now in ninth place with 11 points.
After just 23 minutes, the home team was behind 2-0 against Sheffield Wednesday. Although West Brom scored goals in the 65th and 84th minutes to tie the score, they gave up a crucial third goal in the 86th minute.
The Baggies had won the prior four league games and only conceded one goal in that stretch while scoring on seven occasions.
After his team's Saturday loss, manager Carlos Corberan made remarks in which he indicated that his team had shown too much respect to Sheffield Wednesday and that he was extremely hurt.
Considering that his squad has performed considerably better this season than in 2023–24—a season in which the Baggies managed just nine points from their opening seven games—Corberan shouldn't be overly discouraged by his team's loss.
West Brom is playing in the Championship for the fourth time in its history. Last season, they finished fifth and made it to the promotion playoffs, but Southampton beat them 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals in May.
The Baggies have won fifteen of their last twenty-four league home games, drawn six, and lost just three of their previous seven Championship fixtures.
Middlesbrough, their opponents, exacted revenge on Stoke City on Saturday for the Potters' August 27 EFL Cup elimination.
Ben Doak, a transfer from Liverpool, scored the team's first goal against Stoke in the 34th minute. Boro's second goal came in the 73rd, but they played solid defense and gave up only two shots throughout that time.
Michael Carrick, the manager, commended his team for their work off the ball and expressed satisfaction with their ruthlessness and aggression.
Carrick will be hoping that his team's win may serve as the impetus for a persistent push for the top six playoff berths, particularly considering that they narrowly missed making the playoffs the previous season.
Prior to this Tuesday's encounter, Middlesbrough had won two, drawn two, and lost three of their previous seven games while scoring seven goals and giving up ten goals.
Boro's away record in the Championship is inconsistent; in their past four away games, the team has won two, drawn three, and lost five. In their last 16 league road games, the team has won eight, drawn three, and lost five.
