West Brom vs Southampton preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
West Brom will be looking to get back to winning ways as they travel to Southampton on Tuesday evening.
Ryan Mason is under increasing sack pressure after guiding the Baggies to yet another defeat on 6 December.
West Brom were beaten 3-1 by Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, seeing them drop to 16th in the Championship.
However, Mason’s side have an immediate chance to put Saturday’s result behind them, as they face Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
West Brom News highlights everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Preview
Southampton are one of the form teams in the Championship under new permanent manager Tonda Eckert, and come into the contest with five wins in their last six games.
The Saints are flying up the table after a poor start to the season, and went above West Brom into 11th with their recent win over Birmingham.
It will be a big test for Mason and his side, but it comes at just the wrong time for the Baggies, who have been very poor in recent weeks.
West Brom have won just two of their last nine games in the Championship, and will be big underdogs for the clash on 9 December.
Form guide
Southampton (last six games all comps): W W W W L W
West Brom (last six games all comps): L W L D W L
Head-to-head
West Brom fans have bad memories of St Mary’s, and Tuesday’s game will be the first time the Baggies have made the trip to Southampton since their play-off semi-final defeat back in 2024.
The Hawthorns outfit have only won just one of their last 10 games against the Saints, a 3-0 victory during the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.
In even worse news for the Baggies, they haven’t tasted victory in their four previous visits to St Mary’s.
West Brom last secured all three points away at Southampton in 2016, with Matt Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win.
Team news and predicted lineups
Mason is fighting to save his job against Southampton, and could make several big selection calls after recent performances.
Joe Wildsmith was given the nod against QPR, but the backup goalkeeper was abysmal, and Josh Griffiths will surely be back between the sticks on Tuesday.
In defence, Nat Phillips could come in to replace Krystian Bielik, after the former Liverpool centre-back served his one-game suspension.
Further forward, Josh Maja was another who struggled against QPR, so Isaac Price may be given the nod to allow Mason to reshuffle the formation.
Southampton predicted XI: Bazunu; Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Stephens; Fellows, Downes, Jander, Manning; Azaz, Scienza, Armstrong
West Brom predicted XI: Griffiths; Campbell, Phillips, Mepham, Styles; Mowatt, Molumby; Johnston, Price, Grant; Heggebo
Prediction: Southampton 3-1 West Brom
The odds are stacked against the Baggies going into this contest, and it is hard to see them coming away from the south coast with anything.
Mason’s side have been so inconsistent this season, and with Southampton in such good form, it looks set to be an incredibly difficult test at St Mary’s
Aune Heggebo has been the one positive for West Brom recently, and all hope will be pinned on the Norwegian once again on Tuesday evening.
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