West Bromwich Albion are back in Sky Bet Championship action at The Hawthorns on Friday night for a clash with a rejuvenated Nottingham Forest (ko 8pm).
The Baggies were held to a goalless draw by Blackpool in midweek despite creating a number of clear goalscoring opportunities.
Albion will welcome a return to B71, a place where they remain unbeaten in the league this season.
Forest arrive in impressive form having lost just one of their last 12 games in the Championship.
Steve Cooper, who was appointed in September, has turned the club around in a short space of time, leading them from bottom of the division to the middle of the pack.
They were left frustrated though by Luton on Tuesday. The Hatters departed the City Ground with a point in a game which also saw Forest midfielder Jack Colback receive a red card for two second-half bookings.
How to follow the game
Friday's fixture with Nottingham Forest will be available with audio commentary only, owing to the game being broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Supporters with a seasonal or monthly subscription can log in to enjoy live Baggies-biased commentary from 7.45pm here.
If you haven’t got a subscription and would like to listen live, you can buy a commentary Match Pass for just £2.50 here.
A full-match replay of the game will be available to all WBA TV Matchday subscribers, as well as season ticket holders and members, through WBA TV+ the following day.
Opposition
Nottingham Forest’s fortunes have had a complete turnaround since the appointment of Steve Cooper in September.
Cooper, the former Swansea City boss, took over with the club rock bottom of the Sky Bet Championship having won just one of their opening eight games.
But the 41-year-old, who won the U17 FIFA World Cup with England in 2017, has claimed 20 points from his 11 matches, losing just once.
Forest, buoyed by their seven-game unbeaten run away from home, will head to The Hawthorns sitting 13th in the table, seven points off the play-offs and nine clear of the danger zone – a position most thought would be impossible given their poor start.
Friday’s visitors have drawn four of their last five games, including their most recent encounter against Luton at the City Ground on Tuesday night.
The 2021/22 campaign is Forest’s 14th successive season in the second tier, but the club’s supporters will be quietly confident of a play-off push should their impressive results continue into the festive period and the new year.
Classic clash
Albion beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 two days before Christmas in 2000.
Forward Jason Roberts hit an impressive brace either side of Ben Olson's own goal.
Tony Vaughan was also dismissed early in the second 45 for the visitors.
Did you know?
The last two games at The Hawthorns between Albion and Forest have ended in 2-2 draws.
Jacob Murphy and Jay Rodriguez (pen) scored for the Baggies in February 2019. Twelve months later, Callum Robinson bagged Albion's first against Forest before defender Tobias Figueiredo turned into his own net.
Read all about it
Sam Johnstone’s finest Baggies moments are captured in this week’s edition of Albion News ahead of his 150th milestone appearance for the club.
Secure your copy here. Alternatively, you can buy a copy on Friday night with several stalls open in and around The Hawthorns.
LV BET's latest odds
Albion are the favourites at 2/3 (1.67) to beat Nottingham Forest on Friday.
A total of 17 goals have been scored the last five times these teams have faced each other. We’ve got an over 2.5 total goals market for this fixture available at 7/8 (1.88).
Albion's leading goalscorer Karlan Grant is priced at 5/1 (6.00) to find the back of the net first.
Callum Robinson also comes in at 13/7 (2.85) to get his name on the scoresheet and become an anytime goalscorer.
Check out the new LV BET Bet £10 Get £10 customer offer here. 18+ begambleaware.org. Terms apply. Odds are subject to change.
Additional information
METRO SERVICE SUSPENDED FOR REPAIRS
Albion supporters are reminded the West Midlands Metro service – including lines to and from The Hawthorns – is suspended until further notice in order to implement repairs.
West Midlands Metro confirmed earlier this month the line would be closed in both directions from Saturday, November 13.
Replacement bus and train services are in operation with Metro tickets and passes valid on the alternative modes of transport detailed below:
- National Express bus service 74 between West Bromwich and Birmingham
- National Express bus service 79 between Wolverhampton and West Bromwich
- National Express bus service 16 between Birmingham city centre and Handsworth Wood
- National Express bus service 101 between Birmingham city centre and Winson Green/Jewellery Quarter/Handsworth
- ALL train services between Wolverhampton/Hawthorns and Birmingham
For more information on the suspension of Metro services, click here.
INCREASED SEARCH REGIME
The club are making some adjustments to the matchday search regimes following the increase threat level to the United Kingdom.
Supporters will be required to open their jackets and empty their pockets. Any bags brought in will need to be opened and there may be a need for a physical search if deemed necessary.
To ensure supporters can enter the ground quickly, we would ask that they only bring a minimum amount of possessions with them, with the exception of required medical equipment.
Please note that there is no storage area for supporters with large bags, so please do not bring any to The Hawthorns.
