West Brom vs Middlesbrough result predicted by supercomputer
West Brom will have a huge challenge as they face Championship leaders Middlesbrough on Friday.
West Brom suffered their first league defeat of the campaign against Derby County over the weekend.
West Brom’s solid start to the season sees them currently fifth in the Championship.
The Baggies will look to end Middlesbrough’s undefeated start to the campaign. Getting at least a point in a difficult away environment against a great opponent can prove crucial for morale in the West Brom team going forward.
West Brom were in control throughout the game against Derby which left Ryan Mason furious after the match. That performance put in by the Baggies will leave fans wondering how they lost that game.
Mason will need to make changes to face Middlesbrough in a game that will be vital in keeping West Brom in the top six in the early stages of a long season.
West Brom head into Middlesbrough match as underdogs
The Baggies’ impressive start to the season saw Mason nominated for Championship Manager of the Month in August. Considering this is his first job in first-team management, he has adapted excellently.
How Mason can get his team to respond following a loss will say a great deal about their spirit and ability to deal with the challenges they will face throughout the season. They need to stay positive after their promising results so far.
West Brom will travel to the North-East to take on Middlesbrough. Rob Edwards’ side came back from behind twice to get a draw away to Preston on Saturday.
The Baggies are predicted to be in for another difficult match this weekend. According to Opta‘s supercomputer, they see the hosts as favourites to get all three points.
Middlesbrough have been given a 49.1 per cent chance of winning the match, while only giving West Brom a measly 25.3 per cent chance of coming out on top. That means there is a 25.6 per cent chance of a draw.
- Read more: Birmingham City cult figure Troy Deeney not having possible new proposal that could impact West Brom
West Brom’s defence will be crucial in promotions hopes
Mason’s side was dominant in keeping possession against Derby, but a small lapse of concentration was what cost them. If this West Brom side can make become hard to break down, that might be the missing piece needed in order to kick on.
The Baggies only gave up one shot on target in that match. It is clear they have the foundations set well by Mason, and more time on the training pitch learning the tactics of a new manager will only see this team improve over time.
While Mason may be inexperienced, he has shown signs that he can be a capable manager at Championship level, and if he can improve his team’s backline, they can prove a real force this season.
They have shown they are more than capable of taking control in games, a few more improvements can be all that is needed to see West Brom challenge for promotion this year.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest West Bromwich Albion news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @westbromnews247