West Bromwich Albion vs Burnley. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance23,016.
Monday 21 November 2016 20:11, UK
Salomon Rondon is set to return for West Brom when they take on Burnley, live on Monday Night Football.
The striker has recovered from the hamstring injury which meant he missed Venezuela's World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia and defeat to Ecuador.
Tony Pulis' side will be looking to build on their encouraging 2-1 win away at champions Leicester, which ended a run of five league matches without a win.
The Hawthorns is not a particularly happy hunting ground for Burnley, who have not won away in the league at the ground since December 1969.
The Clarets have lost on eight of their nine visits since but they head into the Monday night match full of confidence after a run of three games without defeat, including two wins and a draw away at Manchester United.
Team news
West Brom striker Saido Berahino is closing in on fitness but Tony Pulis has hinted facing Burnley on Monday is likely to be too soon.
The 23-year-old has not played since September and was placed on a personal fitness plan after the Baggies deemed him to be overweight last month but has returned to training with the first team.
Record signing Nacer Chadli remains out after minor knee surgery but is not expected to remain sidelined for long.
Stephen Ward is pushing to return to Burnley's starting line-up for the trip to West Brom.
The Ireland defender missed the win over Crystal Palace due to hamstring trouble but has trained this week and will be given a late fitness test by boss Sean Dyche.
Dyche expects no new injury worries with the likes of Ashley Barnes and George Boyd pushing for starting places after impressing from the bench against Palace.
Opta stats
West Brom beat Burnley 4-0 in the only previous time they have hosted the Clarets in the Premier League - Saido Berahino scored twice in this game..
The aforementioned game was the last time West Brom failed to score against Burnley home or away in a league contest, scoring in each of the last 19 meetings.
The Clarets have taken one point from 12 available away from home, compared to 13 from 21 at Turf Moor.
West Brom are yet to score from outside the area this season, while 36 per cent of Burnley's goals have come in this manner.
The Baggies have won just one of their last 11 games against promoted sides in the Premier League (D4 L6), and their last home win against a newly promoted side was against Burnley in September 2014.
Sam Vokes has scored in three of Burnley's last four league games. The Wales striker has scored their only away goal this season.
West Brom have lost only two of their last nine home Premier League matches contested on a Monday (W3 D4).
Sean Dyche's side are the only Premier League team to outrun their opponents in all 11 games this season, while West Brom have done this in nine of 11 matches.
Tony Pulis has seen his side keep just one home clean sheet in their last nine games.
These two sides have played the highest proportion of passes long in the Premier League this season: WBA (24.5 per cent) and Burnley (23.3 per cent).
Merson's prediction
I actually think this will be a really, really good game, one of those games that both clubs look back on at the end of the season and say: "That was a massive, massive result."
The top teams can lose a game and then win five on the trot, but every game is a cup final for these mid-to-bottom teams.
I like both managers, they don't get anywhere near the amount of credit they deserve. Sean Dyche barely gets a mention! Who can do the job he's done?
West Brom will never go down as long as Tony Pulis is manager. I can understand the fans' frustrations sometimes, because they often don't open the game quickly enough. But they have some very good players in Rondon, McClean and Brunt.
I think they'll actually have a go at Burnley, and I think Burnley will do the same. I think it will be entertaining. Both teams need to win, and these are the games that these teams highlight.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-2
Betting
West Brom are marginally odds-on with Sky Bet to secure the victory at 19/20, with Burnley 3/1 while the draw is a 23/10 chance.
Both sides will be looking to send their relegation odds on the drift, with the Clarets currently considered 5/4 fourth favourites to face the drop while Tony Pulis' men are 15/2 to go down.
Salomon Rondon heads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1 while Sam Vokes and Andre Gray share favouritism on the visitors' side of the betting at 7/1 apiece.
Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4th!
