This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict’ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

West Bromwich Albion host local rivals Birmingham City on Saturday and will know that they can go top of the Championship with a win, even if just until Leeds United play the following day. 

The Baggies are second in the table as things stand and one of the frontrunners to secure automatic promotion with nine games left of the 2019/20 campaign.

Slaven Bilic's men beat the Blues in the reverse fixture and with Pep Clotet's side not battling at either side of the division, they'll feel confident of securing another result.

With the anticipation building for the return of the Championship, we've quizzed our FLW writers on their predictions for the game...

George Dagless

Albion win this game.

Birmingham are one of a few sides in the league that have little to play for this season now and with Pep Clotet going I think that will show this weekend.

Albion are gearing up for a surge at the Premier League and I do think we'll see them start quickly, clocking up the results.

Blues will make it tough but I just think that the extra motivation Albion are going to have – pent up over the last few months – will tell in the end.

I'm going to say 2-0 to the Baggies.

George Harbey

I think it'll be a tight game, but I think West Brom have the edge on this one.

It's likely to be a really tight, cagey affair between two local rivals, and both sides are likely to be rusty after not playing for over three months.

Blues were solid before the lengthy break from EFL action, and a defeat to Reading put an end to a really impressive unbeaten run, so Pep Clotet will be keen to end his time at St. Andrew's on a high and make his team solid to beat again.

Of course, if ever there was a team to break down an opposition defence with ease, it's West Brom, as they create so many chances and have scored so many goals this season.

With Grady Diangana returning to a midfield that has the likes of Romaine Sawyers, Callum Robinson and Matheus Pereira in it, you'd back them to win the game. I'll go with 2-0.

Can you name these 13 hidden ex-West Bromwich Albion players? Have a go!

 

 

Jacob Potter

I can't see anything but a West Brom win here.

Birmingham have really struggled for a positive run of results this season, and I feel as though the break from action came at an ideal time for Pep Clotet's side.

But they've got nothing to play for, as I just can't see them being any worse than the sides below them in the Championship table.

Whereas the Baggies are well in contention to win promotion back into the Premier League under the guidance of Slaven Bilic.

The likes of Matheus Pereira are going to cause the Blues problems throughout the clash this weekend, and I can only see a comfortable West Brom win.

If they don't win this one, then the promotion-chasing pack will fancy their chances of catching Bilic's men.