Oxford vs West Brom predictions: Baggies can bounce back
- West Brom have kept clean sheets in four of their last six matches
- Oxford have not won any of their last four fixtures
- Recommended bet: West Brom to win
West Brom were top of the Championship in the last two weeks of September but they went off the boil before the international break and will be looking to get back on track by targeting a victory over mid-table Oxford at the Kassam Stadium.
Carlos Corberan's Albion racked up 16 points from their opening six fixtures but they failed to win any of the next three and have paid the price by slipping to fourth in the standings.
However, the league remains tight with the Baggies just two points adrift of the summit and two points inside the play-off spots.
Oxford's main aim is to achieve second tier consolidation and they reached the nine-game mark in 10th place after a 1-1 draw away to Portsmouth.
Team news
Oxford need to check on former West Brom man Matt Phillips (muscle strain), who has missed the last five games.
Elliott Moore, Cameron Brannagan (both knee) and Przemyslaw Placheta (unspecified injury) are expected to miss out and Joe Bennett (ankle) is a long-term absentee.
West Brom have a largely clean bill of health with the exception of striker Daryl Dike, who has been out since February with an Achilles injury.
Dike is getting closer to full fitness and could feature for the Baggies Under-21s side over the next few weeks.
The stats
Oxford have drawn their last three matches.
The Yellows are unbeaten in their last seven home fixtures.
West Brom have won three of their last four Championship away games.
All of Albion's last nine away fixtures have featured at least three goals.
The Baggies have scored in 14 of their last 15 away matches.
Prediction
West Brom are in need of a response after taking just one point from their last three fixtures and they can return to winning ways at the expense of mid-table Oxford.
The break probably came at a good time for Albion, who drew 0-0 at home to Millwall last time out despite controlling the game for long periods.
Corberan's side were frustrated by Millwall's low defensive block but they should find it easier to create opportunities against Oxford, who are committed to a more expansive style of football.
Oxford's positive approach has helped them to accumulate a respectable 12 points from nine games.
However, the Yellows were outshot 21 to 12 in a 1-1 draw at basement boys Portsmouth last time out and they face a higher standard of opponent this weekend.
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