‘Tough match for West Brom’ – Exclusive: Kevin Phillips predicts Baggies v Birmingham score
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has warned West Brom of the dangers that Birmingham City will pose on Saturday but cannot see past the home side winning at The Hawthorns.
Albion were due to play Blues over three months ago until the coronavirus pandemic hit and caused the Championship season to be suspended.
West Brom’s promotion bid has been left in limbo since but this weekend, the second-tier season resumes and Slaven Bilic’s men can carry on with their charge towards the Premier League.
Pep Clotet’s Birmingham are first up for the Baggies as they prepare for their final nine matches and although Phillips sees Blues having a number of threats, he is still backing the Baggies to win 3-1.
“It’s going to be very strange with no one there,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“West Brom have got so much quality in that squad and I can’t see anything more than a Baggies win.
“I’ve watched Birmingham a few times this season. They’re very resilient and very direct at times. Lukas Jutkiewicz is a handful and with their manager announcing he’s going to be gone at the end of the season, I know the players really like him so they’ll want to finish the season strong for him.
“It’s going to be a tough match for West Brom. I think Birmingham are going to score because of Jutkiewicz but I’m going to go for 3-1 to West Brom.”
Albion won 3-2 away at Birmingham earlier in the season but it was a very close match.
Hopefully, at The Hawthorns this weekend, it is a more straightforward win for the Baggies, who had to come from behind twice at St Andrew’s.
Bilic has all of his first-team players to choose from except for Nathan Ferguson but his absence should not cause any kind of worries as he’s been out since January.
Grady Diangana’s return to fitness is the biggest one and we hope the West Ham loanee can make a difference if he plays a role this weekend.
In other West Brom news, our panel of Super Fans have reacted to Albion’s interest in this £15million-valued goal machine.
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