West Brom boss Tony Pulis is hoping his side can recover against Sunderland to put their recent thrashing behind them.
West Bromwich Albion welcome Sunderland to the Hawthorns in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, desperate for a response after their 4-0 thrashing against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
With the Midlands outfit so formidable on home soil, while their opponents have one of the worst away records this season, should this weekend’s meeting be a foregone conclusion?
Hawthorns form sees Albion as big favourites
West Bromwich Albion have been solid on home soil this season, coming off the back of four wins from their last five at the Hawthorns. The Midlands outfit have lost just one game in their own backyard since October. In fact, the only clubs who have managed to beat West Brom at home since August are Manchester City and Manchester United.
Albion haven’t been giving up cheap losses to lower league sides, boasting an unbeaten record to bottom-half outfits this season so Pulis will expect a performance at home to a struggling Sunderland side who can’t buy a win on the road, let alone having endured a four-game winless run ahead of this weekend’s meeting.
Sunderland’s travel-sickness likely to continue this weekend
Sunderland have one of the worst away records in the Premier League this season, having picked up just four points from a possible 30 on the road. The Black Cats have lost four on the road on their travels ahead of their trip to the Hawthorns, conceding 12 goals. Poor away form has been a problem with Sunderland for many years but manager David Moyes has been unable to arrest the slide in his first season at the club.
They drew with West Brom in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, and haven’t won a head-to-head with the Baggies in their last five meetings. Sunderland have only beaten Albion twice in the Premier League in nine years, suffering eight defeats for their troubles. Moyes’ men have been short of goals on the road and may have a pragmatic approach at the Hawthorns to try and take a share of the spoils.
With West Brom eighth in the Premier League table, Sunderland will pay the side a lot of respect, focusing more on nullifying the hosts rather than risking defeat by trying to win. The visitors, who are 19th in the table, have a poor head-to-head record, even worse form on the road, and are enduring an injury crisis. As a result, West Bromwich Albion are 7/10 to win against Sunderland in Saturday afternoon’s Premier League clash at the Hawthorns.
Will Tony Pulis’ men deliver?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
