Preview: Coventry City vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

The Baggies sit just one point adrift of their 14th-placed opponents, who must attempt to bounce back from letting slip a three-goal lead at the weekend.

Match preview

While matters off the pitch remain uncertain, West Brom supporters have been left in no doubt that they have appointed the best candidate for the head coach position in Carlos Corberan.

The Baggies have been transformed from relegation candidates to realistic dark horses for promotion, the club now in 16th place but just five points adrift of sixth spot with a match in hand.

Remarkably, West Brom will move into the top half of the table with victory on Wednesday having been deep in trouble at the start of November.

A fifth victory in a row came against Rotherham United at the weekend, three of their previously inconsistent attack-minded players all getting on the scoresheet.

As well as Daryl Dike finding some extra fitness, things are currently going perfectly for Corberan, and no team in the division will be relishing a game with the West Midlands outfit while they are performing at this level.

The same would have been said about Coventry City before the World Cup break, the Sky Blues having shown West Brom the way with four wins in succession to move into mid-table.

However, that momentum has now been lost, Mark Robins's side first losing 1-0 at Reading before dramatically letting slip a three-goal lead at home to Swansea City on Saturday.

Coventry had been in a position to move as high as eighth, but conceding three times between the 68th and 84th minutes have left the club down in 14th spot.

On one level, facing West Brom is the worst possible fixture for Coventry, although they at least know that they will have to raise their levels to match their opponents.

Despite the frustration of the weekend, Coventry will move into at least ninth position if they can end West Brom's rampant run.

Coventry City Championship form:

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West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

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Team News

With Coventry already limited defensively due to injuries, Robins is unlikely to tinker with his back three, but Todd Kane is an option at right wing-back.

Fankaty Dabo will also come into consideration, but Robins may be prepared to name the same starting lineup from the weekend.

Corberan must decide whether he wants to hand Dike two starts in the space of four days, the more likely outcome being the USA international dropping to the substitutes' bench.

Grady Diangana and Brandon Thomas-Asante both scored after their introductions in the second half versus Rotherham and could earn recalls.

However, despite having options to rotate in midfield, Corberan could stick with the trio from the convincing win at The Hawthorns.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Wilson; Rose, Doyle, Panzo; Kane, Hamer, Sheaf, Bidwell; Allen, O'Hare; Gyokeres

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Furlong, O'Shea, Pieters, Townsend; Swift, Yokoslu, Rogic; Wallace, Thomas-Asante, Diangana

We say: Coventry City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

Given Coventry's home record, they will back themselves to shake off the weekend's disappointment and halt West Brom's recent run. However, the Baggies are the form team in the division and we can only predict a hard-fought triumph for the visitors.

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