West Bromwich Albion

Stoke City look to capitalise on an uptick of form as they visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Potters are undefeated across their last four matches, including a victory against promotion-contenders Sunderland in the FA Cup on the weekend.

However, they will be without top scorer Tom Cannon after he was recalled by parent club Leicester City and are still in the midst relegation danger.

Meanwhile, Albion are in the battle for a playoff spot but have also seen their top scorer Josh Maja ruled out through injury.

• After losing each of their three league games against Stoke City between January 2020 and April 2022, West Brom are since unbeaten across their last five EFL matches against the Potters (W3 D2).

• Stoke have won just two of their last nine away league games against West Brom (D2 L5), failing to score more than one goal in all but one of those matches during that time.

• West Brom have won their last three home games, last winning four in a row in the Championship in February 2024 (5 in a row).

• Stoke have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three league games, with the last two ending goalless. The Potters have only drawn 3+ league games in a row 0-0 twice before, in March 2003 (3) and March 2019 (4).

• Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has made the most saves in the 2024-25 Championship campaign (98) while he has also prevented the most goals in the division this term according to Opta's expected goals on target model (13.5 – 41.5xG, 28 conceded).

Steve Hermon - BBC Radio WM

Image source, Rex Features

Tony Mowbray is the latest in a long line of bookmakers' favourites speculated about for the vacancy of West Bromwich Albion head coach.

Even before the club opted for Raphael Wicky as their preferred candidate there were reports that 61-year-old Mowbray had been invited to discuss the vacancy.

After former Swiss international Wicky then turned the job down at the 11th hour earlier this week because he couldn't assemble a backroom staff, Mowbray was then understood to be back on the Baggies radar.

This head coach search promised to focus on being thorough rather than quick but it is now more than three weeks since Carlos Corberan's departure. And, with time ticking away in the January transfer window and three games to come in the space of a week, the club's owners will be aware that speed may need to become a priority.

Appointing one of the most well-respected managers in English football, who is fondly remembered for that easy-on-the-eye promotion campaign in his first spell at The Hawthorns 17 years ago, might now be a sensible move.

It would also be a heart-warming return to the West Midlands for Mowbray, who was forced to stepped down as Birmingham City boss almost 12 months ago for what was later revealed to be bowel cancer, revealed in a BBC interview just before his official resignation in May.

As it stands though, one of the first summer signings in that Championship title-winning campaign Chris Brunt, the man who Mowbray brought in from Sheffield Wednesday in August 2007, is set to remain in interim charge.

Albion's next scheduled press conference ahead of this Saturday's Championship derby with Stoke City, who Mowbray's Albion pipped to the trophy in 2008, is on Friday at 16:00 GMT with Brunt.

West Brom are eyeing a move to hire Sean Dyche as their new manager after he was sacked by Everton. (LiverpoolWorld), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip here.

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 FA Cup third round games and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.

For this week's matches he is up against actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton, who is a Liverpool fan.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

The injuries to Evanilson and Enes Unal this week are a blow for Bournemouth but, even without them, they are still dangerous going forward.

The Cherries are another club like Fulham and Brentford, where I look at them and hope they throw a lot at the FA Cup this season.

I said the same last year, when Bournemouth reached the last 16 for only the sixth time since they were founded in 1899, and lost to Leicester.

The furthest they have got is the quarter-finals, in 1957 and 2021, and they have never won a major trophy, so if you're a fan then you want them to have a real crack at it now they are doing so well in the Premier League.

So this should be the start of a cup run for Andoni Iraola's side, even if he makes a few changes.

I don't think Albion will be pushovers, but they are still managerless at the moment and Bournemouth should be too strong for them at home.

Billy's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Brunt admits it's been tough, but he can look back with satisfaction on his role as interim boss at West Bromwich Albion.

Saturday's FA Cup tie against Bournemouth is expected to be the last Albion game before a successor to Carlos Corberan is appointed at The Hawthorns.

Since stepping up alongside Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill, the Baggies have won one, drawn two and lost one.

Brunt told BBC Radio WM: "Hopefully the club will make the right appointment and I'll go back to my job and get on with it."

He admitted getting back into the day-to-day grind hadn't been easy, adding: "It's been a bit of a challenge. Credit to all the staff, everyone at the club has got round each other and supported in whatever way they can.

"It has been a draining couple of weeks but we have come out the other side with some good performances. The whole squad stood up and were counted when they were needed."

Brunt says he doesn't know what his future holds but added: "It's all experience. Some of it good, some of it tough. It's very different standing in a technical area watching a game rather than playing.

"I've learned a lot. There's a lot of stuff I'll take out and put in the bank and can draw on in future. If I do decide to go into (management) I have got some sort of experience of it."

The Baggies are back in the top-six in the Championship and Brunt added: "The goal at the end of it was to make sure we get points and leave the team no worse off than when Carlos had left on Christmas Eve. We've done that.

"It's nice to be able to hand over in a decent position and move forward after Christmas.

"If it's to be the last game on Saturday then hopefully we can get a decent result.

Albion travel to Bournemouth in the FA Cup 3rd Round and it's live on BBC Radio WM and BBC Sounds from 3pm on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

This is the first FA Cup meeting between Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion since January 1999, with the Cherries winning a third-round tie 1-0 thanks to an Eddie Howe goal.

Birmingham City are interested in signing Rangers defender Adam Devine but could face competition from fellow West Midlands side West Bromwich Albion. (Birmingham Mail, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip here.

West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United are among clubs interested in signing Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas, with the 19-year-old impressing in his 25 Championship appearances on loan at Stoke City this season. (Daily Mail, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column.

Listen to BBC Radio WM commentator Steve Hermon provide an update on West Bromwich Albion's search for a new manager to replace Carlos Corberan.

You can also listen via BBC Sounds here.

Steve Hermon
BBC Radio WM commentator

Image source, BBC Sport

Albion have finalised their shortlist for a new head coach and interviews are under way.

Blackburn head coach John Eustace and Swiss manager Raphael Wicky are the latest names being linked with the role.

Despite the process of appointing a new head coach moving to the next stage, the Baggies expect to have the caretaker trio of Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill still in interim charge for the FA Cup game at Bournemouth on Saturday.

They have overseen four games so far picking up a win over Preston, two draws and one defeat, which came on Boxing Day at Derby. Those seven points have helped them maintain their place in the Championship play-offs.

However, the third-round tie at the Premier League Cherries is likely to be their last in charge, with the club aiming to appoint a new boss before the next league game against Stoke at The Hawthorns on 18 January.