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

The Baggies have amassed just three points from their first four matches, while the visitors have made a far more impressive start with two victories and two draws.

Match preview

Hoping to sustain a promotion push under Steve Bruce in the Championship this season, West Bromwich Albion began with a trip to Middlesbrough and left with a point thanks to John Swift's second-half equaliser.

The Baggies would then play out another creditable draw, with Karlan Grant's leveller seeing their contest with newly-relegated Watford finish 1-1, before Grant was again on the scoresheet in a 1-0 EFL Cup win over Sheffield United.

Hoping to build on those results and post a first league triumph, Bruce's side took on Blackburn Rovers away from home at the weekend but left empty-handed, with Grady Diangana's second-half goal not enough to spark a turnaround after Ben Brereton Diaz and Sam Gallagher had put their hosts 2-0 up.

Now on the back of a goalless draw at home to Cardiff City on Wednesday, the Midlands side find themselves as one of just five teams without a victory after four games in England's second tier, while only 23rd-placed Luton Town and newly-promoted Wigan Athletic have scored fewer than the three goals they have managed.

With pressure on Bruce quickly growing at the Hawthorns, the Baggies will be desperate to break their winless run at the weekend and kickstart a climb up the division in the coming weeks.

They face another tough test, though, as Hull City arrive with confidence after their positive start.

After avoiding relegation under the management of Shota Arveladze last season, the Tigers have begun the new campaign in impressive fashion and remain unbeaten with eight points on the board.

They started with a 2-1 win at home to Bristol City, before taking a point from a goalless draw away at Preston North End.

The Yorkshire outfit would then take an impressive scalp with another 2-1 victory on home turf last weekend, as Oscar Estupinan's brace proved to make the difference at home to newly-relegated Norwich City.

Now on the back of a pleasing point away at Burnley, as Ozan Tufan's opener was cancelled out by a goal from Jay Rodriguez, Arveladze's men will hope to continue their impressive form on Saturday and take advantage of an out-of-sorts Baggies side.

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions):

Hull City Championship form:

Hull City form (all competitions):

Team News

With striker Daryl Dike set to remain West Bromwich Albion's only enforced absentee through injury, Karlan Grant should continue to lead the line, while Grady Diangana's goal against Blackburn was enough to keep him in the starting XI on Wednesday.

Bruce will hope to see more from summer signings Jed Wallace and John Swift, who combined for the equalising goal in their opening game against Middlesbrough and should complete the attacking unit.

Midfielder Jayson Molumby will likely come back into the starting XI alongside Okay Yokuslu, at the expense of Jake Livermore, while Semi Ajayi and Dara O'Shea will continue their partnership in the middle of the defence.

After picking up an impressive point away at Burnley, Hull could come into Saturday's game with an unchanged starting XI, as new signing Ryan Woods is more likely to feature off the bench following his arrival on Thursday.

Midfielder Ozan Tufan has already made himself a key man after signing from Fenerbahce in the summer, and the Turkish international will again play behind a lone striker on the back of scoring his second league goal of the season last time out.

The line will be led by fellow new man Oscar Estupinan, who opened his account for the club with a brace in the win over Norwich, with Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Benjamin Tetteh likely operating on the wings.

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Button; Furlong, Ajayi, O'Shea, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Ingram; Coyle, Greaves, Figueiredo, Elder; Jones, Slater; Tetteh, Tufan, Sayyadmanesh; Estupinan

We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Hull City

An intriguing encounter is in store at the Hawthorns as a struggling West Bromwich Albion side look to put up a first league win of the season against Hull, who arrive with plenty of confidence.

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