West Bromwich Albion

There's a big battle in the race for the top-six on Sunday afternoon as West Bromwich Albion visit Vicarage Road to face Watford.

The Baggies climbed above the Hornets on Wednesday night courtesy of their 2-0 win over Coventry, which made it 12 games unbeaten, albeit 10 of those being draws.

Watford salvaged a point at bottom side Hull but remain unbeaten at home with 23 points from nine games, and just four goals conceded.

• Watford are unbeaten in their past seven league games against West Brom (W3 D4), with both matches between the pair last season ending in 2-2 draws.

• West Brom have not won any of their past six away league games against Watford (D3 L3), having won on each of their prior three trips between September 2001 and November 2007.

• Watford are unbeaten in their past 13 league games at Vicarage Road (W8 D5), keeping a clean sheet in eight of those games, including all the past four.

• West Brom have lost fewer Championship away games than any other side this season (W4 D5 L1), with five of their past six such games ending in a draw (W1), as many as in their previous 23 (W9 L9).

• Tom Fellows has assisted six away Championship goals for West Bromwich Albion this season, with those six assists coming for just two players – four for Josh Maja and two for Karlan Grant.

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If you remember doing the football pools and having to select games you think would end in a draw then West Bromwich Albion would be first on your list.

The Baggies are unbeaten in their past 11 Championship games but 10 of those have been drawn.

Coventry City are looking to go three league games unbeaten for only the second time this season.

• West Brom have won each of their past three league games against Coventry City and have lost just one of their past eight matches overall (W5 D2).

• Coventry City have won just one of their past 12 away league games against West Brom (D3 L8), conceding more than five goals in two different matches during that time.

• West Brom have both failed to win (D3 L1) and failed to score in each of their past four midweek league games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) since a 2-0 win over Rotherham United in April earlier this year.

• Coventry City manager Frank Lampard is unbeaten in three league meetings with West Brom (W2 D1), winning both of those which have come in the Championship (4-1 away and 3-1 at home in the 2018-19 campaign, in charge of Derby County).

• Coventry have lost both of their past two league games against fellow sides from the West Midlands, and could lose three such matches in succession for the first time since a run of four defeats in November 2007.

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New Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is very keen not to get too excited about his encouraging unbeaten start with the Sky Blues as he prepares for a second tough away game in five days.

Following on from Saturday's 1-0 win at Millwall, City take on a West Bromwich Albion side who are perhaps in a false place in eighth in the table.

Lampard warned: "We need to not get too far ahead of ourselves because it's one win and there's a lot of work to do.

"We'll prep for the game on Wednesday. That's the rigours of the Championship for you, so we'll have to deal with it."

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder described Albion as the toughest opposition his side have faced this season following Sunday's 2-2 draw.

But, having been top in September before embarking on a run of just one win in 13 games, of which a remarkable 10 have been draws, the Baggies' main problem is scoring goals - just six in nine home games.

Albion were also battling for promotion when Lampard made his only previous visit there as a Championship manager with Derby County in October 2018.

It was only his 14th league game in management - and his largely young Rams side had only previously won five of them. But, although admittedly he had talent of the calibre of Tom Huddlestone, Fikayo Tomori, Jayden Bogle, Mason Mount, David Nugent, Tom Lawrence and Harry Wilson at his disposal, it was a night when Lampard's Derby clicked into gear.

They were two up inside 15 minutes and then ran rings round Darren Moore's Baggies before ultimately running out 4-1 winners.

On a ground where City have managed just one point and one goal (Haji Wright's penalty last season) and have lost on three of their past four visits, they have not won at The Hawthorns since Leon Best and Michael Mifsud each netted twice in a 4-2 victory in December 2007.

They would love another four goals away from home on Wednesday night. But on a ground where there have so far this season been just 11 scored by either team (and eight of those have come in two 2-2 draws in successive home games), it would seem rather unlikely.

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West Bromwich Albion defender Torbjorn Heggem experienced the highs and lows of being a Baggie all in one afternoon as his side had to settle for a point against Championship leaders Sheffield United.

The big Norwegian felt the exhilaration of scoring his first goal for the club, watched by some visiting friends over from Scandinavia.

"I had some friends over from Norway watching. It was a great game, four goals and they saw me score too," he told BBC Radio WM. "I love the support I get from the Albion fans so it was good to score and give them something back. A great feeling.

"I have felt closer and closer to my first goal and it was really good to get it from a set piece - one of the things we'd been working on. It was a great delivery and I was happy with the finish."

But, within 13 minutes of putting Albion ahead, two quickfire goals by the Blades before half-time put them in front - and, for all their overall attacking threat, the Baggies only earned a point in the end when Tom Fellows' cross was fortuitously deflected in.

"We were really good for the first 30 minutes," Heggem added. "We were trying to press them high. We were really trying and digging deep to get three points. But they punished us.

"And it is frustrating. We are drawing too many matches. We need to win games."

Albion's 10th draw in 11 games has left the September leaders eighth in the Championship and 10 points adrift of top spot going into Wednesday night's Midlands derby against Coventry City.

Torbjorn Heggem was talking to BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon

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West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan says he has a "special group of players" despite the Baggies' bizarre capacity to keep drawing games this season instead of winning them.

Albion drew for the 10th time in their past 11 games on Sunday at an extremely wintry Hawthorns as they took the lead against Sheffield United, lost that advantage to trail 2-1, then fought back to finish 2-2, a seventh draw in this term's nine unbeaten home matches.

Having led the table in mid-September, Albion's extraordinary sequence of Xs on the pools coupon is part of an overall run of just one win in 13 games which has dropped them to eighth in the Championship, 10 points off top spot, now taken up again by the Blades.

After three successive home goalless draws, to make four in total at The Hawthorns this season, the Baggies have at least started finding the net, having also drawn 2-2 against Norwich City.

But, starting with this Wednesday night's home game against Frank Lampard's Coventry City, based especially on the quality Albion showed over the first half hour against Sheffield United, head coach Corberan still believes his players can turn those draws into wins - by battling back from setbacks and not making excuses.

"When results are not good it can be difficult to believe in the coach," he said. "When they are good, they think you are a genius.

"This group of players have something which is special. They do not find excuses.

"Since I came to this club two years ago we have faced difficulties, but this team have never stopped fighting.

"This year, with limitations, we are competing a lot. When things are not working well the easy way is to find an excuse. But, in the difficult moments, we are not making excuses. Some of these players have big personalities to keep growing and use the difficult moments to improve."

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West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan has praised defender Torbjorn Heggem for the way that he has quickly adapted to playing in the Championship.

The 25-year-old Norway international has made 18 Championship appearances since joining the club from Swedish side IF Brommapojkarna in July.

"His level of attention has been extraordinary from first moment" Corberan told BBC Radio WM.

"He arrived to pre-season without a holiday period. Probably [that] helped him to have more of the tempo."

Heggem's recent good form for Albion - including as a left-back and a left-sided centre-back - helped earn him his debut for Norway in October.

"His mentality has been excellent, his open mind to take every single idea, and after his skills to move everything to the pitch," Corberan added.

Albion, who sit seventh in the table, host league leaders Sheffield United on Saturday.

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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Draw speciaists West Bromwich Albion have marginally more encouraging team news ahead of Saturday's trip to Preston North End.

Carlos Corberan's Baggies have slipped to eight points off top spot and out of the Championship play-off places afer drawing eight of their past nine games.

Albion have won just once in 11 matches, starting with the 3-2 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 28 September, when they were top of the league.

But they head for Deepdale unbeaten on the road in five games since, including Tuesday's draw (their sixth in 17 games this season) at high-riding Sunderland.

They also welcome back full-back Darnell Furlong following his one-game suspension for picking up five bookings - and they might also be able to call on centre-back Kyle Bartley following his first start in seven games.

Bartley was replaced at half-time at Sunderland by makeshift stand-in Uros Racic but boss Corberan now says he is "in better condition".

Facing a PNE side who are pretty adept at drawing themselves, having shared the spoils eight times this season, Albion are also without summer signing Ousmane Diakite (knee) and winger Grady Diangana (calf). And they are still missing defenders Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair.

Ajayi was ruled out on 31 October for four months following surgery on a hamstring injury, while McNair is in the middle of an expected eight-week absence, also with a hamstring injury.

The goal-shy Baggies, who have scored at home just four times this season but thankfully have looked more of a threat on the road with 14 from nine games, are also still without striker Daryl Dike, now not expected to be fit until January at the earliest as he bids to recover from another ruptured Achilles tendon.

Corberan got quite animated at Friday's press conference when asked about the frustration of some fans, saying he pays attention to neither negativity nor positivity as it would distract from his job - and he also reminded the fans where Albion were when he took over in October 2022 (23rd in the table).

The Preston game will be Corberan's 103rd in charge of Albion, taking him past his previous best tally of 102, with Huddersfield Town.

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Defender Mason Holgate says West Bromwich Albion are relishing the opportunity to take on a promotion rival when they travel to Sunderland on Tuesday.

The Baggies are sixth in the Championship and are six points behind second-placed Sunderland following a 2-2 draw with Norwich at the weekend, in which Holgate scored.

"If we want to be where we want to be and if we have the quality we believe we have, these are the games where we need to stand up and make statements," Holgate told BBC Radio WM.

"I think we all know that and are ready for it and looking forward to it."

Sunderland are one of three teams tied on 32 points at the top of the table, along with Leeds and Sheffield United, and Holgate believes things can change very quickly.

"I feel like this year, anybody can beat anybody and that's what makes these games where we come away feeling like we could've won a little bit more frustrating, because you add those points on, it makes a really big difference," he said.

"But the games come so fast. If we win on Tuesday against Sunderland and win on Saturday against Preston, it's been a good week and we will be in a much different place.

"So all we can do is look forward and keep concentrating on games that are coming thick and fast now until the Christmas period."

Everton loanee Holgate previously had a spell with West Brom in 2019 and says he has "loved" being back at the club.

"Last time I was here, we dropped a little bit short in the play-offs, so I want to go one further and try and get promoted this year," Holgate added.

"I think with the quality that we've got - and nobody in this league is pulling away with it - I feel like it's there to be grabbed by somebody, so that's what we want to do."

You can listen to Mason Holgate's interview on BBC Sounds.

A fourth successive league draw for Sunderland at the weekend saw them replaced by Leeds United at the top of the Championship table but they will be looking to reclaim the lead as they host sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

The Black Cats, level on points with Leeds but in second on goal difference, will also be mindful of Sheffield United - also on 32 points - and Burnley - two points further back - who are both also eyeing top spot going into their games against Oxford United and Coventry City respectively.

To get themselves back top, Sunderland need to beat a Baggies team who are on an eight-game unbeaten streak and, with the majority of those ending in draws (W1 D7), the West Midlands outfit will be eager to come away victorious.

• Sunderland have won their last three league games against West Brom, having won just one of their previous 16 games against the Baggies (D5 L10).

• West Bromwich Albion have won one of their last six league visits to Sunderland (D3 L2), winning 2-1 in December 2022.

• Sunderland are unbeaten in each of their first seven home league games of the season (W5 D2), their longest such run in the top two tiers since 2010-11 in the Premier League (first 9).

• No side have drawn more away Championship games in 2024 than West Brom (8), including three of their last four such games (W1).

• West Brom have failed to score in each of their last three league games in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), drawing each of the last two (L1); though they have kept a clean sheet in 10 of their 12 previous such games.