Can Baggies Evade Drop Zone With Swansea Win?

West Bromwich Albion look to move clear of the relegation zone tonight (20:00) with a home victory over Swansea City.

Now under the management of former Stoke boss Tony Pulis, the Baggies are currently two places and one point above the dreaded trapdoor. Whilst a win would see them move to as high as 13th, depending on whether or not Palace lose to Newcastle and by what margin, a loss could see them usurped by Burnley who take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Swansea, on the other hand, will look to reaffirm their top end credentials, three points putting them on 36 and only a solitary point behind West Ham in eighth. Contrarily, a loss would see them liable to being overtaken by either Stoke or Newcastle, should they beat Manchester City and Crystal Palace respectively.

The two sides have only met once this season, this meeting coming back in August when Garry Monk`s Whites saw off West Brom, then under the control of Alan Irvine, by three goals to nil. Nathan Dyer grabbed the opener with the game just two minutes young prior to Wayne Routledge doubling up on the 24th minute. Dyer completed his brace halfway through the second 45, putting the game too far beyond Albion`s reach.

Sixty-six-to-one with paddy Power says 27-year-old Dyer will be able to score at least another two goals against West Brom.

Despite this previous result and their superior league standing, Swansea are the 23/10 (Betvictor, sportingbet) outsiders for tonight`s clash. Indeed, a repeat 3-0 scoreline in favour of the Whites can also be backed at 50/1 with Betvictor. Most bookmakers have slated Albion as the 6/4 favourites for the encounter whilst a draw can be picked up at 9/4 with boylesports, Coral and paddy Power.

Pulis has been in charge of tonight`s home side since New Year`s Day, the Midlands club having picked up three wins in this seven game period. The only problem with this form, however, is that two of these wins were accumulated in the FA Cup, a 7-0 win against Gateshead and a 2-1 victory over Birmingham earned in their clashes with lower division sides.

West Brom have played three home Premier League matches under their new boss, a win, a draw and a defeat the fruits of their labour. Pulis began his reign with a point against West Ham, the side`s top scorer Saido Berahino levelling up following an opener from the Hammers` Diafra Sakho. Berahino was again on song as he scored the only goal in his team`s 1-0 victory over Hull in their next Hawthorns match before they fell to a 3-0 home loss against Tottenham.

As well as these two home top tier goals, Berahino also hit the back of the net four times at home against Gateshead. The Burundi-born 21-year-old is 9/4 with Bwin to add to his tally at anytime whilst 5/1 across the board says he will grab the first.

Swansea`s recent away form in the league is strong, picking up only one defeat on the road in their last five games. This came back in their last match of 2014, Monk`s Welsh side falling to a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool. Gylfi Sigurdsson grabbed the only Swans goal of this match.

Indeed, four different scorers have contributed the Whites` five goals bagged in this period - Mark noble responsible for putting the ball into the back of his own net as City took on West Ham. What`s more, the side have scored exactly one goal in each of their last six Premier League games on the road.

Betvictor`s 17/10 says Swansea will hit exactly one goal past Albion tonight.

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11/02/2015     © Frixo 2026