Huddersfield v West Brom: Lewis Cox's predicted XI
Albion boss Carlos Corberan may be tempted into personnel and tactical changes assuming neither of Conor Townsend, Kyle Bartley or Brandon Thomas-Asante are ready to start at Huddersfield on Sunday.
The Baggies have found some more resilience away from The Hawthorns at four matches unbeaten – it was last five in 2021 under Valerien Ismael – but Wednesday's point at QPR was fortunate and it would have been a defeat on another day.
Corberan may tinker in search for more control and stability at the John Smith's Stadium, his first trip back to his former employers in 20 months since a summer 2022 exit.
I've predicted a switch to a defensive three/five, with Semi Ajayi back in the starting line-up for the first time since a home win over Leeds in late December to join Cedric Kipre and Erik Pieters and the use of wing-backs rather than full-backs.
I've also given the nod to Pipa at left wing-back, against his former club, rather than Adam Reach. It could be either to deputise for Townsend, in truth, but I think the Spanish loanee merits a shot. Having one of them at wing-back, with slightly less defensive responsibility and more cover behind them, could help Albion be stable.
Andi Weimann would be my starting striker, like at Plymouth a few games ago. The Bristol City loanee can do a tiring job leading the line and allow Jed Wallace back out to his usual wide role, with the in-form Mikey Johnston on the other flank and the threat of Tom Fellows, Grady Diangana and John Swift from the bench, as well as Thomas-Asante, assuming he is passed fit.
It would be a change to the regular 4-2-3-1 Corberan operates with.
See Lewis Cox's predicted line-up below.
3-4-3
Alex Palmer
Semi Ajayi
Cedric Kipre
Erik Pieters
Darnell Furlong
Okay Yokuslu
Alex Mowatt
Pipa
Wallace
Weimann
Johnston
Substitutes: Griffiths, Reach, Chalobah, M'Vila, Swift, Fellows, Diangana, Marshall, Thomas-Asante.
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