West Brom vs Wolves predictions: Visitors set to edge competitive cup derby
- Three of West Brom's last six defeats were by a 2-1 scoreline
- Both teams have scored in nine of Wolves' last 11 away matches
- Recommended bet: Wolves to win 2-1
Wolves had to dig deep to see off Brentford in their FA Cup third-round replay at Molineux but their reward is a highly anticipated trip to The Hawthorns to take on rivals West Brom.
Wolves came from behind twice against the Bees to take the replay to extra-time before Matheus Cunha's 105th-minute penalty finally sealed their progress to round four.
West Brom are in the top six of the Championship and aiming to join Wolves in the Premier League next season but this weekend they will be fully focused on knocking their neighbours out of the cup.
Team news
West Brom are missing Semi Ajayi and Grady Diangana due to international duty.
New signing Andreas Weimann is cup-tied and Matt Phillips, Josh Maja and Jayson Molumby are injured.
Wolves could welcome back Rayan Ait-Nouri after Algeria's group-stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations but Pablo Sarabia is a doubt.
Hee Chan Hwang and Boubacar Traore are still on international duty and Joao Gomes is suspended.
The stats
West Brom have won seven of their last nine home matches in all competitions.
Three of the Baggies' last six defeats were by a 2-1 scoreline.
Five of West Brom's last seven FA Cup ties have produced over 3.5 goals.
Both teams have scored in nine of Wolves' last 11 away matches.
Wanderers have conceded the first goal in six of their last eight away games.
Wolves have scored 11 goals in their last five matches in all competitions.
Prediction
Three straight away defeats in the Championship have hampered West Brom's surge up the table but the Baggies have a proud home record under Carlos Corberan.
They have beaten Norwich, promotion-chasing Leeds and Blackburn in their last three league matches at The Hawthorns and eased past Aldershot 4-1 in the FA Cup third round.
A home fixture against Premier League Wolves is a step up in class but the Baggies are unlikely to roll over against their local rivals.
Three of West Brom's last six defeats have been by a 2-1 margin and a 2-1 win for Wolves looks a decent bet in the correct-score market.
Gary O'Neil is likely to pick a strong team given the significance of this fixture to both sets of fans and Wolves, with Cunha and the fit-again Pedro Neto in their attacking unit, have the class to edge a feisty encounter.
Nine of West Brom's 13 league wins have come at home but Wolves have been in fine form in the top flight, beating Chelsea 2-1 and Brentford 4-1 either side of Christmas.
They followed up with a 3-0 home win over Everton and a goalless draw at Brighton but both teams have scored in nine of their last 11 away fixtures so the Baggies may be able to strike a blow in a narrow defeat on Sunday.
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