Credit: Tung Manh Phan

Cameron Smith

Mon 20 April 2026 8:00, UK

West Bromwich Albion are quickly back in action in the Championship, as they welcome Watford to The Hawthorns on Tuesday.

The Baggies moved one step closer to survival on Saturday, as goals from Josh Maja and Daryl Dike sent them on their way to a 2-0 win away at Preston North End.

The timing of the win itself could not have been better, with the three-point haul following an anxious week in which it was reported that a potential points deduction could be coming Albion’s way due to an alleged PSR breach.

James Morrison has guided his side to an eight-match unbeaten run around this, but a string of three draws after the international break had stopped the Black Country club from pulling too far away from the bottom three.

Increasing the gap to five on Saturday, West Brom have a big chance to secure their place in the Championship with three games to go.

Form guide

West Brom (last six games): WDDDWW

Watford (last six games): LLDLDW

Head-to-head

Across the most recent spells in the top flight for the Baggies and Watford, the two clubs missed each other as one went up and the other went down.

Though, as a Championship fixture, the clubs remain locked together in terms of their record.

Each of the last three between the pair has ended in a 2-1 scoreline, with the Hornets winning both matches at Vicarage Road in the last two seasons.

Though the Albion would win the encounter at The Hawthorns sandwiched between these fixtures, with a predictable 2-1 scoreline.

On another positive note for the Midlanders, Watford are winless away at West Brom since the 2015-16 term, securing a 1-0 win following their ascent to the Premier League.

Team news and predicted lineups

On the team news front, Morrison will likely remain without both Jed Wallace and Mikey Johnston, though the former is set to return to the fold before the closing weekend of the season.

American striker Daryl Dike finally brought his goal drought to an end in the win against Preston, scoring for the first time since the final day of last term.

After rotating between the towering forward and Josh Maja since switching to a 4-4-2 formation, the Baggies boss may take the opportunity to start Dike, who will be looking to make a lasting impression before a potential summer departure.

Isaac Price could continue out wide, with the Northern Irishman benefiting from the switch in formation and the subsequent free role handed to him.

Watford go into Tuesday’s clash in terrible form, having not won any of their last five Championship matches.

Manager Ed Still is the third Hornets boss of the season in typical Watford fashion, and has been unable to rebuild any promotion ambitions after a positive term under Tom Cleverley last year.

He will be without Stephemn Mfuni, while Hector Kyprianou, Rocco Vata and Pierre Dwomoh are all doubts.

West Brom predicted XI: O’Leary; Imray, Phillips, Campbell, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt, Diakite, Price; Dike, Heggebo

Watford predicted XI: Selvik; Petris, Pollock, Goglichidze, Abankwah; Mendy, Louza; Irankunda, Chakvetadze, Maamma; Kjerrumgaard

We say: West Brom 2-0 Watford

Finally breaking out of the 2-1 cycle, the Baggies should have more than enough to beat a Watford side who are simply in dismal form.

If results elsewhere go the way of West Brom during the week, then survival could well be secured.

Though with a potential points deduction looming, Morrison’s side can’t stop there as they look to build a gap big enough to fend off any threats if they were to be docked points.

In the penultimate home match of the campaign, the unbeaten run could be set to be stretched to nine matches.