Summary

  • West Brom beat Coventry to go fifth in the Championship

  • Diangana goal gives Baggies victory

  • Sixth straight home win for West Brom

  • Sky Blues stay 13th in tight table

  • 10 games in Championship on Saturday

  1. Listen livepublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (20:00 GMT)

    Both BBC Radio WM and BBC CWR are broadcasting live commentary of tonight's lone Championship fixture, which you can listen to if you are in either of those local area.

    Unfortunately, we are unable to stream radio commentary of EFL matches on the BBC Sport website.

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  2. Only one outcome?published at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (20:00 GMT)

    Daryl DikeImage source, Getty Images

    Now if you pay attention to the bookmakers you might be forgiven for thinking this game is a foregone conclusion.

    Coventry have lost their last three away games, scoring only once, while West Brom have won their last five infront of their own fans, all without conceding a goal.

    In fact the last time an opposition player found the net in the league at The Hawthorns there were pumpkins in the windows.

    Oli McBurnie was the villain on 29 October, netting the second in Sheffield United's 2-0 win in Carlos Corberan's first game in charge.

    West Brom have actually kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven home league games against Coventry City

    For their part Coventry have kept five clean sheets in their last eight away games, but they have failed to score in four of them too.

    Dare I mention these two sides played out a stalemate the last time they met here, last April.

  3. TEAM NEWSpublished at 19:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (20:00 GMT)

    There's an enforced change for Carlos Corberan, and a key one, as keeper Alex Palmer misses out with an ankle injury.

    David Button comes in for his first league start under Corberan, having played only three FA Cup games during Palmer's 17-match run in the Championship.

    There's also a start for deadline day arrival Marc Albrighton, while another new face, Nathaniel Chalobah, is on the Baggies bench.

    Nice and simple for Mark Robins, why change a winning side? As you were, Sky Blues fans.

    Matt Godden is on the bench again, having made his first appearance since October against Huddersfield last weekend.

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  4. Postpublished at 19:52 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (20:00 GMT)

    Ged Scott
    BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

    Coventry City did not make any new signings on Transfer Deadline Day - but it was the one potential outgoing move they did not do which was the primary caused for Sky Blues joy . . . keeping hold of Viktor Gyokeres.

    Both new owner Doug King and manager Mark Robins both stated that their highly prized 13-goal top scorer was not for sale - and they meant it.

    And Robins was simply relieved that an unnecessary month of speculation was at last put firmly behind them.

    Viktor GyokeresImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Viktor Gyokeres has scored 34 goals in 95 appearances for Coventry City since arriving, initially on loan, from Swansea City in January 2021

    "It's not a pleasant experience now," he told BBC CWR. "The press start scaremongering and most of the time it's invented.

    "There's clickbait everywhere. It's just ridiculous. Sometimes I read things and I cannot believe what I'm reading. Agents agitate to get people moves, where there was never a problem.

    "Thankfully it's gone now, until the next time, so we can all get on with it. I'm happy with what we've done. I'm happy we've kept everybody intact."

  5. Postpublished at 19:48 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (20:00 GMT)

    Ged Scott
    BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

    It's a chance for West Bromwich Albion to get back on the rails tonight after their first little wobble under Carlos Corberan.

    The league defeat at Championship leaders Burnley followed by last weekend's miserable 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round exit at Bristol City add up to the first back-to-back losses the Baggies have endured under Corberan.

    But they have a chance to boing right back tonight against a Sky Blues side who have not won the road in three months.

    Former Premier League winner Marc Albrighton was one of two deadline day Albion signings, along with Nathaniel ChalobahImage source, Adam Fradgley (WBA/Getty Images)
    Image caption,

    Former Premier League winner Marc Albrighton was one of two deadline day Albion signings - along with Nathaniel Chalobah

    Albion could be strengthened tonight by either or both of their two deadline day signings - the first market moves made by Corberan.

    On-loan Leicester City winger Marc Albrighton is the more likely to figure, having not been short of first-team action for the Foxes in January, while on-loan Fulham midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah has made just two late substitute appearances since his early red card in the 4-1 home defeat by Newcastle United on 1 October.

    Albion had hoped to make one change up front too, having lined up Jamaican teenager Omari Hutchinson from Chelsea. But the Londoners' preoccupation with getting their record deal for Enzo Fernández done meant that the Hutchinson loan fall through, which also had a spin-on effect of kyboshing Karlan Grant's move to Swansea.

  6. Last time outpublished at 19:47 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (20:00 GMT)

    The last time these sides met was four days before Christmas at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

    Viktor Gyokeres converted a stoppage-time penalty to ensure a 1-0 win for the hosts.

    That goal took the Sky Blues eighth at Christmas and left the Baggies in 16th.

    It was a fifth win in seven for Mark Robins’ side while it brought to an end the Baggies’ five match winning run.

    A lot has changed in these past 44 days. Such is the nature of the Championship table that West Brom could climb from 10th to 5th with a win tonight, the Sky Blues, meanwhile, are now 13th but could go level on points with their hosts with a victory.

    If City can complete the double over their rivals it would be their first since 1969-70... what better incentive than a place in club folklore.

  7. Good evening...published at 19:46 Greenwich Mean Time 3 February 2023

    West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City (20:00 GMT)

    The HawthornsImage source, Rex Features

    ... and welcome to a huge weekend of EFL action.

    Friday night's Championship offering promises to be a bumper affair with local bragging rights at stake and play-off implications galore.

    West Brom are licking their wounds after back-to-back defeats for the first time under Carlos Corberan while Coventry hope victory last time out has stopped the rot and can get them headed back up the table.

    Must win? Must not lose? Either way it's sure to be a must watch game!