West Brom vs Sunderland: How to watch, team news, recent form and referee

All you need to know ahead of Sunderland's Championship game against West Brom.

Author:
Will Jeffries
Publish date:
Apr 22, 2023 7:50 PM EDT

Sunderland make the trip down to the west midlands to face a West Brom side who sit one point and two places above them in the Championship, with both teams knowing a win would move them into the play-off places.

Over 2,000 Red and White supporters will be making the journey down to the Hawthorns which comes as no surprise.

Last time out, Sunderland played out a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town, while West Brom secured a 2-0 victory away at Blackpool.

How to Watch

When: Sunday 23rd April 2023, Kick-Off: 12pm
Where: The Hawthorns
TV: Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Football or SAFC Stream (International)
Radio: BBC Radio Newcastle

Team News

Kyle Bartley is close to a return for West Brom after recently taking part in training and could feature this weekend, while Okay Yokuslu will be monitored ahead of the fixture.

Nathaniel Chalobah will miss this game for the Baggies though as he recovers from an ankle ligament injury suffered against Blackpool.

Danny Batth became the latest Sunderland player to be ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against Huddersfield Town, meaning Tony Mowbray will have to reshuffle his defence once more.

Dennis Cirkin is available once again after serving a one-match suspension, whilst Edouard Michut will be assessed ahead of the game after a back injury ruled him out of midweek action.

Youngsters Zak Johnson, Tommy Watson and Ellis Taylor could be part of the travelling party this weekend.

Last Meeting

The two teams last played each other in the Sky Bet Championship on Monday 12th December 2022, with the Black Cats losing 2-1 at the Stadium of Light. The Sunderland goal was scored by Amad Diallo.

Sunderland Team: Patterson, Gooch, O'Nien, Batth, Alese, Evans, Neil, Diallo, Pritchard, Embleton, Simms

Recent Form

West Brom: DLDWW
Sunderland: DDWWD

Head-to-head (last 10 matches)

West Brom wins: 5
Draws: 4
Sunderland wins: 1

Who is the Referee for West Brom vs Sunderland

John Busby will take charge of this match and has refereed 30 matches over the last 12 months and issuing 112 yellow cards.

He will be assisted by Matthew McGrath and George Byrne, with James Linington acting as the fourth official.

What the Managers have said

Carlos Corberan believes his side must continue to build on their encouraging home form if they are to make the play-offs.

Corberan said: "I think it's going to be a very nice game because they try to compete by making the best football that they can make.

"They like to play out from the back, they like to dominate the ball, they like to have the ball.

"So this means that it's one game that if we want to do well, we need to know how to press and press well, and we need to know how to defend, and defend well.

"We need to have the ball, too, and know what to do with the ball, because they have the capability to have the ball a lot and be comfortable.

"We need to be very concentrated to show our level in a game which is going to be different to previous ones."

Tony Mowbray knows a win on Sunday will see his side leapfrog their opponents and into sixth place, but won't be taking the Baggies lightly as they have their own play-off ambitions.

Mowbray said: "West Brom are a really good team.

"I watched our home game against them and we did really well for an hour in that game and then they showed us how talented they were. They put us under real pressure late on and they got themselves a winner.

"They've got a lot of talented individuals. They took some of the best free transfers the league offered last year in John Swift and Jed Wallace.

"I managed West Brom and I know the emotion and the passion of the place when it is going well. I was reading before that they are postponing their campaign against the ownership in support of the team as they push for the play-offs.

"I think it will be a really good game. I am sure we will take an enormous number of people along to support us. We need to know that when that stadium is near full, it's an amazing place to play football.

"We go there in a positive mindset knowing that we are going to attack and be aggressive. If we can get the result, then that will keep our season ticking along."

Sunderland predicted line-up vs West Brom

With central defence utterly decimated by injury, Mowbray may throw an opportunity to January signing Joe Anderson.

Joe Gelhardt is carrying a knock but is likely to start the game.

Sunderland predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Anderson; Cirkin; Neil, Michut; Roberts, Amad, Clarke; Gelhardt