Corberan axes Maja after Coventry win – West Brom predicted XI v Watford
Carlos Corberan is expected to drop Josh Maja when West Brom visit Watford on Sunday.
The ex-Sunderland forward has notched 12 goal contributions in the Championship so far this season and has been linked with a move away from The Hawthorns.
However, he was substituted at half-time in the 2-0 victory against Coventry (11 December) after failing to impress in the first half, potentially due to a lack of fitness.
Therefore, he is not expected to start against the Hornets as Corberan makes two changes to the starting XI.
Alex Palmer will continue in goal, the 28-year-old has kept ten clean sheets in the Baggies’ first 20 Championship games.
Against Frank Lampard’s side, Palmer recorded a clean sheet, made four saves preventing a total of 2.53xG and made three high claims. [Fotmob]
A makeshift defence for West Brom
Darnell Furlong will continue on the right hand side of defence as he recorded a 79 per cent pass accuracy against the Sky Blues and made four recoveries and four clearances.
He won six of the seven ground duels he contested for an 86 per cent success rate and won one of two attempted aerial duels.
Mason Holgate and Torbjorn Heggem will continue at the heart of a makeshift defence due to injuries to Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair.
The former Everton man recorded a 95 per cent pass accuracy in Wednesday’s contest and made four clearances, two interceptions and one recovery.
He also won three of four aerial duels that he contested for a 75 per cent success rate but won only one of his two ground duels.
The Norweigan will partner him, he recorded a 92 per cent pass accuracy and made five clearances, one interception and one recovery.
He also won the two ground duels he contested for a 100 per cent success rate and won one of the two aerial duels he attempted but was criticised by Albion legend Tony Brown for a shaky performance.
Callum Styles will continue to fill-in at left-back despite naturally playing in midfield.
He recorded a 94 passing accuracy, misplacing just two of his 34 attempts, made four passes into the final third, three recoveries, two clearances and one interception.
He won just one five ground duels for a 20 per cent success rate and did not fare much better in the air, winning just one of three aerial duels that he contested.
No midfield changes for West Brom
Jaysom Molumby and Alex Mowatt will continue at the base of the Albion midfield after impressive performances against Coventry.
The Republic of Ireland star recorded a pass accuracy of 95 per cent, misplacing just three of his 63 attempts, made four passes into the final third, one recovery, one clearances and one block.
He won the only ground duel that he contested and 75 per cent of the four aerial duels that attempted.
The Englishman recorded a 93 per cent passing accuracy, made ten passes into the final third, two recoveries and won 100 per cent of the four ground duels that he contested.
Big changes in attack
Tom Fellows is expected to continue of the right-wing, he recorded a 90 per cent pass accuracy against the Sky Blues, had four touches in the opposition box and created one chance.
On the opposite flank, Jed Wallace should replace Mikey Johnston, who was poor in the victory over Coventry.
The Ireland international recorded an 88 per cent pass accuracy, had four touches in the opposition box and created one chance.
However, he was dispossessed three times and won just four of the ten ground duels that he contested for a 40 per cent success rate.
John Swift replaced Josh Maja at half-time and he should continue in place of the Nigerian striker behind Karlan Grant.
Maja had just 12 touches in his 45-minute appearances with just two of those coming in the opposition box and made just three passes into the final third in a disappointing display.
Meanwhile, Swift had 44 touches in the second-half, with three coming in the penalty area and made four passes into the final third.
Grant impressed against Lampard’s side, scoring the second goal, completing the most dribbles in the match with four, having 50 touches compared to Maja’s 12 with five coming in the opposition box.
In other West Brom News, Lampard made an admission about the Baggies after the match on Wednesday.
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