West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers meet at The Hawthorns for a vital clash between two play-off rivals on Wednesday night (20:00).

The Baggies are fifth - two points ahead of Rovers in sixth - and are undefeated in their past 11 home games (W5 D6).

Blackburn have won just one of their past four games (L4) and are a point ahead of Middlesbrough in seventh, who have a game in hand.

• West Bromwich Albion have won just one of their past six league games against Blackburn Rovers (D3 L2), though that sole victory did come in this exact fixture last season during a 4-1 success.

• Blackburn Rovers have failed to win any of their past six away league games against West Bromwich Albion (W3 D3), since a 3-1 victory at the Hawthorns in December 2010.

• West Brom have only lost one of their past 13 midweek home games in the Championship (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), earning victories in 10 of those matches (two draws).

• Blackburn Rovers have lost four of their past five away Championship games (D1), losing their past three in a row. They had won four away games in a row before this run.

• Since a run of six consecutive Championship victories between 9 November and 14 December, Blackburn Rovers have picked up just eight points in 11 games (W2 D2 L7).

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith says he enjoyed making his league debut in the dramatic 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Former number one Alex Palmer left to join Ipswich Town on transfer deadline day, meaning Wildsmith, who signed for the Baggies in the summer, took his place between the sticks.

Wildsmith, 29, came up through the Owls academy and made 66 appearances between 2015 and 2022 before moving to Derby County, where he spent two seasons and played 97 times.

"The occasion that got presented to me coming in was something really special," Wildsmith told BBC Radio WM.

"Obviously playing against my boyhood club, playing my first game for West Brom at The Hawthorns in the league.

"It was, first and foremost, great to play in front of the fanbase, it was rocking. The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant.

"And then to get the win the way we did at the end, you couldn't write it. The overall feeling in the dressing room is one of real pleasure. It's been a whirlwind week but it's ended in a great result.

"I've been working hard all season and been ready for that opportunity if it was going to come. I hope I've done enough to keep my place."

Albion boss Tony Mowbray said: "I always say with goalies, I try not to build them up too much because that's what he's in the goal for, to save the ball, stop it going in your net.

"I would say I was more pleased with him coming and taking the cross right at the death. So dominant and clean hands. His handling and steadiness was what was good."

Listen to Joe Wildsmith's interview with BBC Radio WM on BBC Sounds.

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West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray spoke to BBC Radio WM after the Baggies' stoppage-time victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

"I thought there were lots of positives We were very good first half, total domination, I think they had one shot," he said.

"We had lots of the ball, just couldn't break through. Second half was more open, they came more into it, but we had some really good chances.

"Ultimately the score is 2-1 to us and we deserved to win over 90 minutes but the injury-time equaliser was a kick in the stomach for us.

"Then to score again so soon afterwards is something the lads have been talking about – we don't score many late goals.

"It was brilliant movement in the box from Molumby. I felt over the 97 minutes we deserved to win the game. I am pleased for the fans. We just have to keep going."

Mowbray on Bartley's post-match red card: "I didn't know until he came in and said he'd had a red card.

"It's really disappointing and frustrating for us. I think he's going to be really important for the team. It's going to be a blow if he's going to miss three games."

Image source, Adam Fradgley - Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion sporting director Andrew Nestor says the club are in a much healthier position in terms of satisfying English football's profit and sustainability rules than they were prior to their change of ownership almost a year ago.

The former Bologna director and Tampa Bay Rowdies president was chief executive of Bilkul Football Group, Albion's owners, when he took on his Albion role in mid-August, two weeks before the close of the summer transfer window.

But he described Championship club Albion's PSR position when Bilkul took over in late February from Guochuan Lai as having been "perilous".

"We are continuing to strategically navigate this situation," he said, "whilst remaining competitive in the league and investing in the club's future through the decisions made in these last two transfer windows.

"The average age of the squad weighted for minutes played was the oldest in the Championship and the fifth-most expensive.

"We have since been assembling a cohesive squad built around a more offensive-minded style of play. We have reinvested in key players that were already here, as well as new impact acquisitions and several top players under 21. The average age has been reduced and we have created capacity to continue future investment.

"Our squad planning model is centred around creating a mix of peak-year performance players in the 23-25 and 26-29 age categories, and young developing U23 talents. This can enable the club to compete at the highest level, but also develop players and optimise trading opportunities.

"We believe the squad adjustments made in the past month help us tremendously as we seek to adopt a more attack-minded playing style, create a pipeline of top young talent, and simultaneously reinforce the squad.

"The overarching strategy for 2025-26 is in place and, behind the scenes, we have aligned and bolstered our scouting and data capabilities."

West Bromwich Albion will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at bottom side Plymouth when they host fellow play-off chasers Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Baggies are sixth in the Championship but only above Middlesbrough in seventh on goal difference.

Meanwhile the Owls are only two points back in 10th place and could move into the top six with victory, even if only temporarily.

• West Brom have won three of their past four home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D1), having been in winless in the previous seven (D4 L3).

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their past two league games against West Brom, last winning more consecutively between 1961 and 1963 (5).

• West Brom have lost just one of their past 15 home league games (W7 D7), and are unbeaten in 10 at the Hawthorns since a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough in October.

• Sheffield Wednesday lost their first three away league games this season. However, since the start of October only Burnley (25) and Sheffield United (23) have earned more away points in the Championship than the Owls (20).

• Sheffield Wednesday's Michael Smith has scored in both of his past two league games, coming off the bench both times. He last scored in three consecutive league games within the same season in August/September 2021 while at Rotherham.

Image source, Rex Features

On Tuesday, we asked what you made of West Bromwich Albion's business in the transfer window.

Albion signed midfielder Tammer Bany from Danish Superliga side Randers for a fee in the region of £3.3m on deadline day following the signings of Spurs striker Will Lankshear on loan and midfielder Isaac Price from Belgian club Standard Liege.

Southampton's Adam Armstrong was reunited with Baggies boss Tony Mowbray on loan in the dying embers of deadline day.

Mowbray did see first-choice goalkeeper Alex Palmer move to Ipswich, with Albion recalling Josh Griffiths from loan at Bristol Rovers but Tom Fellows and Josh Maja remain with the club for at least the rest of the season.

Here are some of your responses:

James: Overall the end to the window has certainly got the juices flowing. Adam Armstrong seemingly has the ideal profile to head a Mowbray-inspired attack at the play off positions. Maja is proving a key miss, so Armstrong, along with some potentially exciting young blood in midfield has reignited fans' dreams of a tilt for the big time, something that had only recently seemed improbable this season.

Eddie: Sensible business overall - Josh Griffiths has been in top form at Bristol Rovers so hopefully he can do a decent job for us.

Michael: Good window. If anyone had to leave to fund the replacements then better it was someone with ample cover available than a Fellows or a Maja.

Lee: A fabulous window from the Baggies. No one could have expected four players in, including the much-needed forwards. Also great to see that we didn't lose too many. Could be a special end to the season.

Roger: Excellent business, we have the creative players but we need goalscorers, and Armstrong is proven. Hopefully the young Spurs and Danish players prove to be good assets and score goals. Very pleased.

Craig: Considering the financial aspects everyone is aware of, some very good business. Gutted to lose Palmer, but Griffiths is ready for that step up. Very happy with Armstrong, a goalscorer is just what we need.

Paul: Good business in the main, signed two young stars permanently, with two loan forwards to help us get promoted. Slightly sad regarding Alex Palmer leaving but I guess it balanced the books. Tony knows what he is doing.

Dave: As disappointed as I am to see Palmer leave, I think the owners have been sensible and pragmatic. Palmer only had 18 months left on his contract... and he would likely have left for free at the end of his current deal. That's sensible business by the owners who (unlike the previous owner) have the bigger 'club sustainability' picture at the front of their thinking. Patience Baggies, patience. Trust the owners and let's get behind the team, Griffiths is supposed to be a real talent who was getting fed up with the lack of opportunities; well, he's got his chance now.

Richard: Given our financial situation I think our January incomings and outgoings have been fantastic. Pure profit for Palmer and strengthened creativity and goals threat, which is much needed.

Martin: For the first time in years we have a strike force! We've gone from having no strikers (both out long-term injured) to having a wealth of them - especially once Maja and Dike return from injury.

Ian: Surprised at letting Palmer go but, saying that, Josh Griffiths was a good replacement and did well when Palmer was injured. The other signings seem good, solid, sensible ones.

Jeff: Excellent business, fair play to our chairman, he's slowly and surely turning the club around after a disastrous experience with the previous regime.

Steve Hermon
BBC WM commentator

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Albion fans were made to wait but it was absolutely worth it because they have managed to acquire one of the Championship's most prolific marksmen with the extremely late capture of Southampton striker Adam Armstrong.

The 27-year-old has scored 80 career goals in the second tier, including 24 last season for the Saints, who beat the Baggies in the play-offs on their way to securing promotion to the Premier League.

In his early interviews since being appointed for a second spell last month, head coach Tony Mowbray has distanced himself from the work of the club's recruitment team – led by sporting director Andrew Nestor – but there's no doubt that the 61-year-old's influence has led to this deal being completed.

Mowbray first worked with Armstrong at Coventry when the then-teenager was on loan from boyhood club Newcastle.

But it was when they were reunited at Blackburn in 2018 that Armstrong found his shooting boots, going on to bag 44 goals in 86 appearances in back-to-back campaigns before moving to the south coast in 2021.

As for the other activity, the sale of first-choice keeper Alex Palmer to Ipswich raised eyebrows but with just 18 months left on his contract and hot prospect Josh Griffiths waiting in the wings, it made business sense for the club to cash in on an academy product, which means pure profit.

The £5m deal will have also helped fund the purchase of Danish forward Tammer Bany. The 21-year-old is definitely the product of the Bilkul recruitment model.

Nestor and director of football operations Ian Pearce will have done their research over some time on a player with potential whose quality and value will hopefully increase over time, which is the same profile as another recent arrival, Northern Ireland international midfielder Isaac Price.

Cancelling Serbian midfielder Uros Racic's unsuccessful loan also allowed the signing of Bany to happen as it opened up a spot for another player from abroad, while young defender Caleb Taylor returned to League One Wycombe on loan to get some vital minutes under his belt, as the club are confident that they have enough cover in that position.

Overall, it's been a very productive window, with 19-year-old Spurs striker Will Lankshear also recruited on loan, but it's the signing of the Saint that is the icing on the cake.

It could truly prove to be a season-changing signing, as Mowbray looks to maintain the Baggies' place in the play-offs. Hopefully they can experience a memorable day at Wembley in May, just like Armstrong did with his parent club only nine months ago.

Image source, Rex Features

It's time to talk about West Bromwich Albion's transfer business...

It was always likely to be a dramatic finish to the window given Carlos Corberan's Christmas departure for Valencia, and Albion signed midfielder Tammer Bany from Danish Superliga side Randers FC for a fee in the region of £3.3m on deadline day.

Bany, 21, who plays as an attacking midfielder in the number 10 role but can also operate as a forward, was the Baggies' third signing in the January window following Spurs striker Will Lankshear on loan and midfielder Isaac Price from Belgian club Standard Liege, for an undisclosed fee.

A fourth new arrival has materialised since the window shut as Southampton's Adam Armstrong was reunited with Baggies boss Tony Mowbray.

The 27-year-old striker, who has 125 career goals to his name, first played for Mowbray in the 2015-16 season on loan from Newcastle United, when he was Coventry City manager. Armstrong then spent three and a half more seasons under Mowbray at Blackburn Rovers before leaving in 2021 for Saints.

Mowbray did see first-choice goalkeeper Alex Palmer move to Ipswich Town, where he will rejoin former Albion team-mate Conor Townsend, with Albion recalling Josh Griffiths from loan at Bristol Rovers.

We want you to tell us what you think about the Baggies' transfer dealings...

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, Rex Features

West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray was dumbfounded by a sense of deja vu after seeing his side beaten 2-1 at Home Park by two late match-turning Ryan Hardie goals for Plymouth Argyle.

After taking the lead on 71 minutes, Albion were stunned three minutes later by a disputed penalty for handball - then Hardie added a second two minutes from the end with another goal that must have been very close to being chalked off too - this time for offside.

"We lost 2-1 here when I was with Sunderland - and it turned out to be one of those days again," said Mowbray.

"It was a really, really controversial decision. It was never a penalty kick, from someone who played the game for 20 years and has managed for 20 years.

"The referee's decision to give a pen I cannot understand. Even if it does hit his hand, he couldn't do anything about it. The boy is two yards away and smashes it straight at him. Is there a rule that says you have to put your hand behind your back now? But you have to take these types of decisions in your stride.

"Refs don't have to come out and talk to people after games. No doubt he would defend the decision and say it was right but I would find it difficult to understand how he would condone it.

"We found a way to lose a game we should never have lost. It is quite remarkable really. It's amazing we lost that game. We had such control. They didn't threaten that much and I couldn't see how they were going to score.

"I'm not sure how we lost that to be honest. Probably not enough shots? They played five across the back and they played a lot deeper than they normally do. We found it difficult to break them down. We have to put the ball in the back of the net when we're on top."

Tottenham will allow 19-year-old forward Will Lankshear to leave on loan before Monday's transfer deadline, with Burnley, Middlesbrough, West Brom, Cardiff and Luton keen on the England Under-20 international. (Football.London), external

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