West Brom vs Manchester City Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

West Brom’s season is going just the way many expected it to, with the Baggies once again proving difficult to beat but failing to pick up enough wins to challenge the top half of the table. Their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last weekend leaves them in 13th position in the Premier League.

This defeat ended a run of four games in which they were unbeaten, with a trio of 1-1 draws preceding this defeat. One thing West Brom have markedly improved on is their ability to find a goal, with eight of their ten matches in all competitions seeing them find the back of the net.

It’s rarely been more than a single goal scored, but with their typical Tony Pulis defensive set up that always gives them a chance of getting something from the game. Salomon Rondon and Nacer Chadli have been the major attacking players with seven goals between them in the Premier League. Three of Chadli’s four goals have come at the Hawthorns as well, so backing him to score again at 4/1 could prove a very good decision.

This is especially true because Manchester City have now conceded in nine matches on the trot after their 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in midweek. This loss sent them crashing out of the League Cup and extended their winless run to a very disappointing six matches in all competitions. The last time Manchester City failed to win six competitive matches on the bounce was back in 2008.

Pep Guardiola has very strict guidelines for how he likes his teams to play, and unfortunately it seems the rest of the Premier League contingent have figured out how to stop it. Celtic, Spurs, Barcelona, Everton, Southampton, and Manchester United have now all taken something from Manchester City, as it seems the majority of their players just aren’t capable of playing the slow and methodical style of football that Guardiola demands.

Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United midweek made it three defeats on the trot away from home to the visitors and four without a win. They have failed to score in all three of these losses, something which will please West Brom very much indeed.

Of course, the likes of Spurs, Barcelona, and Manchester United are all higher quality opposition than West Brom, but it’s fairly obvious that Pulis will be setting up an already stern defensive unit to sit back and stop Manchester City from breaking them down. This gives them a real chance, especially when they know they will get some opportunities at the other end of the pitch as well. I don’t think they have enough to get the win, but backing a draw at 10/3 looks a very good choice. I’m going for another 1-1 correct score prediction at 15/2 as well.