West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion will look to avoid a second consecutive loss at the Hawthorns when they host Leicester City on Friday night (20:00 BST).

The Baggies have proven to be a difficult customer on home ground over recent years but fell to Derby County in their last home match before conceding defeat again on the road against league leaders Middlesbrough.

But for Leicester, winning in West Bromwich hasn't been so difficult and they will be hungry for three points after two successive draws sees them one point outside the automatic promotion spots.

• West Bromwich Albion have lost each of their last five league matches against Leicester City, a run that stretches back to March 2018.

• Leicester have won their last six away league games against West Brom, with each win coming under a different manager (Pearson, Ranieri, Shakespeare, Puel, Rodgers, Maresca).

• West Brom lost their last home league game 1-0 against Derby, last losing consecutive league matches at the Hawthorns in October 2022.

• No Championship side have won more points from losing positions this season so far than Leicester (4), coming from behind to beat Sheffield Wednesday and draw with Oxford.

• Leicester have had the highest proportion of their total shots hit the target in the Championship this season (43%), ranking 12th for overall shots (77) but second for shots on target (33).

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West Bromwich Albion boss Ryan Mason has been speaking to the media before hosting Midlands rivals Leicester City on Friday (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines:

• There is no new injury updates from their 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough last Friday.

• Mason is "disappointed" by the past two results after two losses has left them outside the top six but says the side "worked well this week" and are hoping to stop the rot against the Foxes.

• On Leicester's Harry Winks, who Mason worked with while at former club Tottenham Hotspur: "When you're academy player and someone has walked the steps you want to take, it's something you aspire to. I have a really good relationship with Harry, I have had a good relationship with Skippy [Oliver Skipp, also a former Spurs player] too.

• "They've both had really good careers to play for Tottenham, it's not an easy thing to do. Now they are at Leicester and I'm sure they are determined to put in a performance and hopefully our players will put in a performance to overshadow that."

• Mason confirmed that strikers Josh Maja and Aune Heggbo could potentially both start "at some point" having largely favoured only one striker this term.

• He said: "They've got different attributes, currently they are only fit strikers so that comes into the thinking as well. Josh has a massive part to play in this team for the whole of this season and we are looking forward to it when he does."

"People say that [v Swansea in the 1993 Second Division play-off semi-final] was one of the greatest games at The Hawthorns.

"We were all desperate to go to Wembley but the thing was, there was a really calm around the training ground... Ossie [Ardiles] was good at taking away the pressure and keeping us focused."

Former West Bromwich Albion striker Andy Hunt recounts his time at the Baggies, his partnership with Bob Taylor and the side's promotion run to the First Division in 1993.

Listen to the full interview with Hunt and more West Bromwich Albion content on BBC Sounds.

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

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West Bromwich Albion head coach Ryan Mason says it was 'small details' that made the difference in his side's narrow loss away to Middlesbrough.

A goal conceded from a set-piece in the first half and then one in the second after Albion's best spell of the game left then with too much to do, despite a late consolation from Norway striker Aune Heggebo.

"A disappointing result. The small details dictated how the game went," Mason told BBC WM.

"Their goal from a set-play was disappointing, I didn't feel like they created a great deal but they scored at good times and made it tough for us to break them down."

It now means that West Brom have lost their last two games, having opened the season with 10 points from a possible 12, with Mason insisting there are things that needed to be ironed out on the training pitch.

"The second half, we showed a little more belief, a little bit more directness and we created opportunities so it's a disappointing result," said the Albion head coach.

"We need to respond and we have another training week to improve and hopefully turn it around."

West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Mepham says promotion to the Premier League is a "big reason" why he joined the club last month.

The 27-year-old arrived on a three-year deal from Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee after spending last season on loan at Sunderland.

"That feeling of winning games and playing for something is what I really care about as a footballer and you want to feel like you are part of something," the defender told BBC WM.

"The conversations I've had with the boss and looking at the squad from a distance, I feel that this is a club that has underachieved in the past, but there is no reason we can't go and get promoted this year."

The Wales international was part of the Sunderland side that won promotion through the play-offs last season, something Mepham believes he can achieve again this time around.

"I think as a project, this seems similar to what I got pitched last season. A lot of similarities but there is a lot more experience in this team, which is something that you need in this league."

West Bromwich Albion forward Josh Maja could feature in the starting line-up in Friday's Championship match against league leaders Middlesbrough (20:00 BST).

The Nigeria international has only played 16 minutes across three league games so far this season as he makes his comeback from a long-term calf injury.

"I think he's fit enough. He had a very long time out injured and it's about picking the right time for him to get in and stay in," Baggies boss Ryan Mason told BBC Radio WM.

"Every training day at the moment he's progressing, he's getting stronger, he's getting quicker, so that's good news for us."

Defender Krystian Bielik has also returned to training, with forwards Daryl Dike and Tammer Bany getting "closer" in their bid for full fitness.

Karlan Grant, however, is still being assessed and is likely to have a longer wait for his return.

Meanwhile, right-back Alex Williams has picked up a "severe" ankle injury while away with Wales Under-21s that required surgery and will rule him out until the New Year.

"The game before the international break against Stoke, he came on, so to have that injury a few days afterwards on international duty is disappointing," Mason added.

The Championship weekend kicks-off on Friday night with arguably the game of the weekend.

Early pace-setters Middlesbrough welcome fifth-placed West Brom to the Riverside (20:00 BST), with the Baggies having seen their unbeaten start under Ryan Mason ended by Derby at The Hawthorns last time out.

Boro's perfect start under Rob Edwards was halted by a 2-2 draw at Preston last weekend meaning both sides will be keen to get back to winning ways on Teesside.

• Middlesbrough have won each of their past three league meetings with West Bromwich Albion without conceding, last winning four in a row versus the Baggies between 1994 and 1997.

• West Bromwich Albion have only won on one of their past seven league trips to Middlesbrough (D2 L4), winning 1-0 under Slaven Bilic in October 2019 through a Hal Robson-Kanu goal.

• Middlesbrough have picked up 13 points in five Championship games so far this season (W4 D1) – only two of the past 10 teams with 13+ points at this stage have then been promoted: Leeds United in 2019-20 and Fulham in 2021-22.

• West Bromwich Albion have won their past two away Championship matches, more than they won in their previous 20 on the road (W1 D11 L8). The last time the Baggies won three away in a row was their first three away games of 2024-25.

• Middlesbrough's Matt Targett has been involved in a goal in each of his two Championship games so far for the club (1 goal, 1 assist). Targett has ended on the winning side in 69.6% of his Championship appearances (16/23), the 10th best ratio of any player to make 20+ appearances since 2004-05.

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West Bromwich Albion have named sporting director Andrew Nestor as the club's new president.

Nestor, who was appointed to his current role last summer, will now be responsible for "all club functions" as he combines both jobs in a restructured leadership team.

The Baggies have also appointed chief operating officer of owners Bilkul Football Group - Ashish Patel - chief marketing officer and Ethan Gobetz as chief financial officer in the new set-up.

Nestor, a former director at Italian side Bologna and president, chief executive and general manager of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, is CEO of Bilkul and was involved with owner Shilen Patel's takeover of Albion in February 2024.

He was also a key figure in the recruitment of current head coach Ryan Mason in June.

"Andrew has led significant organisational change across our sporting department through achieving better alignment, increased emphasis on analytic and data-led approaches, and improvements to squad value whilst substantially benefitting club finances," Patel said in a statement., external

The owner added he was "more excited by the future than ever" with Nestor more involved and looked forward to him delivering "the positive culture he has grown within [the] sporting [department] to the whole business".

Former West Bromwich Albion defender Curtis Davies says the Baggies' experienced summer signings have been "key" to boss Ryan Mason's early success in his first permanent managerial appointment.

Defenders Chris Mepham, 27, and Nat Phillips, 28, from Liverpool were among Albion's close-season recruits.

And Davies, who played alongside Mason at Hull City in 2016-17, says it was the duo's leadership skills that appealed to the young head coach.

"The signings they've made, I think that's key when particularly you have a young manager," Davies told BBC Radio WM.

"I spoke to Mason in the summer, spoke about the environment, spoke about making sure you've got people in there that can help the changing room and they can almost self-govern it.

"With recruitment now, a lot of people are looking at 'he's done this, done that, he's got resale value' but actually there is a level of that leadership, like Mepham, like Phillips, what they can bring to the group, that is invaluable. You can't put a stat on that."

Listen to Davies' thoughts and more West Bromwich Albion content on BBC Sounds.

"With the Victorian themed activities, it's like the Black Country Museum gone on tour."

Relive the 125th anniversary celebrations of The Hawthorns on Saturday as a brass band welcomes Baggies legend Tony 'Bomber' Brown to present the match ball.

Listen to the scenes with BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon and more West Bromwich Albion content on BBC Sounds.

Chris Latchem
BBC Final Score reporter

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West Brom did almost everything right on Saturday, like a police force perfectly lining up a home raid, only to forget the battering ram.

There is so much to like about the new-look Baggies under Ryan Mason this season.

The three behind the striker has a blend of skill, poise and experience. They move so well and create good chances - but they need that striker to put the ball in the net.

Aune Heggebo has had a tough start at The Hawthorns; he's only had five shots in five Championship games, with just one on target.

The Baggies fans clearly like him, and will hope he takes confidence from his recent international call-up with Norway, who banged 11 past Moldova.

While no one is expecting a Smethwick Erling Haaland, the Baggies will know promotion hopes from this sticky league usually hang on a striker that can deliver the goods.

West Bromwich Albion boss Ryan Mason talks to BBC Radio WM after his side is beaten 1-0 by Derby County.

"I think anyone watching the game will say we didn't deserve to lose it when conceding your first shot on target in the 84th minute.

"It's tough to take, but we accept it and have to move on. It won't take away from the fact that it was a really good performance. I thought we had so much control in the game, especially in the first half when we created numerous chances.

"It just didn't really go our way today, which happens. But it was a positive performance.

"Obviously I'm hurting at the moment, and the players are, because we lost a game of football that we certainly didn't deserve to lose."

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West Brom boss Ryan Mason says that he "does not care" that striker Aune Heggebo has yet to score in the Championship.

The Norway striker, who joined the Baggies in July, has not found the net in their opening four league games, but did get his debut goal in the Carabao Cup against Derby County, who they host on Saturday (15:00 BST).

"Stats can't measure the character," Mason told BBC Radio WM.

"I don't care about that stat, in terms of the one goal, because if you would have seen his performances, they are worth more than one goal.

"In every game, he's led from the front, he's been a real focal point, he's been a point of reference for us and again, the character has been the thing that stands out the most."

Mason also confirmed that there are no additional injury worries following the international break. But while forwards Tammer Bany and Daryl Dike are "closer" to a return, they will not be available for the match against the Rams.

It means the pair will miss out on the club's celebrations for The Hawthorns' 125th anniversary and it is one Mason is particularly keen on putting in a big performance for.

"I knew that when I came to the club, the history that it had, but certainly when I walked through the door you can feel it," Mason added.

"I know it's relatively soon in my tenure at the club but I'm certainly so invested in it and we want to create history here."

West Bromwich Albion will take on Derby County on Saturday (15:00 BST) as they mark The Hawthorns' 125th anniversary with a repeat of the first fixture to be held there in 1900.

West Brom come into this one unbeaten and second in the Championship and will look to extend their run. Derby County are currently hovering just above the relegation zone on two points looking for a first win of the season.

• West Bromwich Albion have lost each of their last three league games against Derby County, as many as in their prior 12 encounters (W5 D4).

• After beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on their last league visit to The Hawthorns in April, Derby County could win on successive trips there for the first time since August 1936.

• West Brom could win as many as four of their opening five league games in successive seasons, after doing so in 2024-25. It would be the second time in their history, previously doing so in 1946-47 and 1947-48.

• Derby have only lost two of their last seven away league games under John Eustace (W3 D2), though have failed to win either away game so far in 2025-26 (D1 L1).

• With three goals and an assist to his name, Isaac Price has been involved in four of West Bromwich Albion's six league goals so far this season.

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West Bromwich Albion will host celebrations at The Hawthorns for the club's 125th anniversary against Derby County on Saturday.

The first official game ever played at the ground was a 1-1 draw against the Rams in September 1900.

Albion's record appearance holder Tony 'Bomber' Brown will present the match ball as part of the day's celebrations.

"I'll be more nervous than the games I went out there and played, I don't particularly like doing those kinds of things, but on this occasion, I've got no problems with it," he told BBC Radio WM.

As a part of the celebrations, the Baggies are looking to bring back the iconic Woodman Corner scoreboard.

"I don't know how they're going to do it, but it'll be a fantastic achievement, if they get it anywhere near what it used to be because it was a big thing," Brown added.

"It was all laid out and numbered and then each hatch with the number on opened and they used to put the half-time scores of the other games on, and you had to look at your programme to see what the games were, I don't know how they're going to replicate that."

Brown is also Albion's all-time leading goal scorer with 279 goals for the club in 720 appearances.

"It means a lot to me, I spent my whole career more or less there, 20 years, which is a long time in football, so I've got a great affinity with the club and everybody who's associated with it," he said.

"I played with so many great players throughout the years and I saw a fantastic change in the game and also in Albion's stadium."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

West Bromwich Albion legend Ally Robertson has been speaking to BBC Radio WM about volunteering at a weekly session supporting Baggies fans with dementia and Alzheimer's.

The 'Memories' sessions were first launched in 2011 and take place at The Hawthorns on a Wednesday morning from 10:00 until 12:00.

The free sessions are led by West Bromwich Albion Supporter's Club chairman, John Homer and are backed by the club's charity, the Albion Foundation.

"What we do is we get people along with their spouses and their friends who have Alzheimer's and dementia and we call it a reminiscence memories group," Homer told BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon.

"We have special guests who talk about the game, talk about what they do and help to bring these people happy memories and stir something."

Robertson first became involved when the initiative was brought into West Brom's hospitals, but he says hosting the sessions at The Hawthorns in the past couple of years has inspired the sharing of even more memories.

"When we did start it hardly anybody said anything. Now, it's great to see them come in and how they let their lives out and they come out and say so many funny things and they bring so [many] memories of their past," Robertson explained.

The sessions are a rewarding process for Homer who has seen a genuine difference being made to people's lives.

"They all look forward tremendously to come in to see us every week and the bond they form as friends within the group is special," Homer said.

Homer and Robertson said they still want new members to join the group.

"If you know someone who suffers with Alzheimer's or dementia in your family or a friend then please feel free to come and see us."

Listen to the full interview with Ally Robertson and John Homer on Sounds.

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Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards, Coventry City's Frank Lampard, West Bromwich Albion's Ryan Mason and Stoke City's Mark Robins have been nominated for the Championship's manager of the month award for August.

Edwards will be a strong contender as Boro occupy top spot after an unblemished winning start to the season, while Mason has enjoyed an unbeaten start in his first permanent managerial role with his Baggies side in second.

Lampard is also recognised as Coventry are yet to lose, while influential Sky Blues midfielder Victor Torp has earned a nomination for player of the month for his four goals in four matches.

Stoke City have another nominee in new signing Sorba Thomas, who has two goals and three assists across his four games, with the Potters who lie third under Robins.

Meanwhile, Norwich City striker Josh Sargent and Bristol City full-back Ross McCrorie round out the player of the month nominations after strong starts to their respective seasons.

Sargent has found the target five times in four games, while McCrorie delivered three assists and scored one goal in August.

The winners will be announced on Friday.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield Wednesday forward Bailey Cadamarteri scored his first goal for Jamaica on Tuesday in just his second senior international appearance.

The 20-year-old made his debut for the Reggae Boyz earlier in the week during their 4-0 win over Bermuda, before scoring the opener during their 2-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, Coventry City teenager Kai Andrews made his senior debut for Wales during their 1-0 friendly loss to Canada.

West Bromwich Albion had an international debutant of their own after striker Aune Heggebo replaced Manchester City's Erling Haaland in added time during Norway's 11-1 thumping of Moldova, while Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth made his first start for Hungary during their 3-2 defeat by Portugal.

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West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City have been fined £5,000 each after a mass brawl during their Championship meeting last month.

Both clubs were charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players after a "mass confrontation" which happened around the hour mark of their match on 30 August.

The Baggies won the match 1-0 to move above the Potters into second place in the Championship.

The clubs admitted the charge and accepted the standard penalty.