Mark Lawrenson predicts West Brom v Man City, makes transfer claim about ‘Big striker’
West Brom failed to win against West Ham last Tuesday and Mark Lawrenson believes they will struggle again tonight against Manchester City.
The Baggies missed a chance to build on their Black Country Derby win against the Hammers but will take confidence from their 1-1 draw at the Etihad earlier in the season.
Giving his weekly predictions to the BBC, Lawrenson said City will be too much to handle this evening at the Hawthorns.
“Even with Kevin De Bruyne injured, they have got plenty of creativity in their side, while West Brom know they need more of that,” he said.
“Manager Sam Allardyce has already increased his side’s threat from set-pieces by bringing in Robert Snodgrass to take free-kicks and corners. Now he wants to sign a big striker to get on the end of them, but that won’t happen in time to affect this game.
“It is hard to see City dropping points again here. They had a scare against Cheltenham in the FA Cup after resting a few senior players, but they just kept coming forward until they found a way through”
Lawrenson thinks Manchester City will win 3-0.
Some big games coming up
West Brom need to build some momentum quickly if they’re to avoid the drop this season. The Baggies are currently 19th in the League, with just one win in their last five they’re six points off safety.
Big Sam won’t be too alarmed yet. After all, we’re just at the halfway stage of the campaign. Of their next nine fixtures, West Brom face six sides in the bottom half of the table.
Matches with Fulham, Sheffield United, Burnley, Brighton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace could turn their season around if approached correctly.
Allardyce will be looking for a big performance tonight to take confidence into these games. He’ll be handed a boost by the return of Robert Snodgrass. The Socts work rate and set peice specialities create a lot more threat going forward for Big Sam’s side.
However, it’s hard to argue with Lawro’s views ahead of the clash this evening. City are the inform team in the Premier League, the only ones to win each of their last six matches.
Victory for Pep Guardiola’s side will put them top of the table, leapfrogging rivals Manchester United by a point. It certainly is a big clash for both ends of the league.
In other West Brom news, there’s been a new twist surrounding the mystery of who adtually owns the Baggies.