West Bromwich Albion welcome Burnley to The Hawthorns on Sunday in an intriguing early-season Championship encounter between two sides who began the new campaign positively.
The Baggies opened with a 2-1 victory at Norwich City after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, while recently-relegated Burnley demonstrated considerable character by recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 with West Ham United. With both teams attempting to establish themselves early in the campaign, a closely contested encounter should be expected.
West Brom endured a difficult 2025/26 season, eventually finishing 21st with 51 points. Their record of 13 victories, 14 draws and 19 defeats underlined their inconsistency, while 48 goals scored and 58 conceded illustrated problems at both ends. Their opening performance against Norwich therefore provided some much-needed encouragement. Aune Heggebo and Jimmy-Jay Morgan put Albion 2-0 ahead, and although Mathias Kvistgaarden pulled one back in the 90th minute, West Brom survived the late pressure to secure all three points.
The nature of that victory was particularly noteworthy as West Brom were not overwhelmingly dominant, but changes from the bench helped alter the contest and eventually produced the decisive moments. That ability to grind out results could prove important after drawing 14 league matches last season.
At The Hawthorns, Albion should again favour a physical approach built around direct attacks, second balls and set pieces. Heggebo provides a focal point through the middle, while Mikey Johnston offers the individual ability to create something from wider areas.
Burnley return to the Championship following a miserable Premier League campaign in which they managed only four victories from 38 matches. The Clarets collected 22 points, scoring 38 goals and conceding 75 for a damaging -37 goal difference. However, the quality of the opposition they faced must be considered when assessing their prospects back in the second tier.
Their squad still contains substantial quality, including Kyle Walker, Josh Cullen and Connor Roberts, and Burnley will expect to challenge significantly higher up the table at this level. Their opening fixture against West Ham offered evidence of both their strengths and weaknesses. Burnley fell 2-0 behind at Turf Moor but produced an excellent late recovery.
Zian Flemming converted an 83rd-minute penalty before striking again in stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 draw. The comeback demonstrated impressive character, but falling two goals behind at home also showed that the defensive problems from last season have not disappeared completely.
Burnley’s route towards controlling Sunday’s contest should run through Josh Cullen and Hannibal Mejbri. If they can dominate possession and prevent West Brom from consistently winning second balls, the visitors should be able to establish territorial control. However, Albion will attempt to make the match physical and disrupt Burnley’s rhythm rather than allowing them comfortable possession.
At the opposite end, stopping Flemming will be one of West Brom’s biggest challenges. The Burnley attacker scored both goals against West Ham and should enter this fixture full of confidence. Nathaniel Phillips, Chris Mepham, and Krystian Bielik provide plenty of Championship experience, but Albion conceded 58 times last season and failed to keep a clean sheet at Norwich.
History favours the Clarets and recent head-to-head history provides Burnley with another reason for optimism. West Brom are winless in their last seven league meetings with Burnley, recording five draws and two defeats since a 1-0 Premier League victory in August 2017. Burnley’s record at The Hawthorns has also improved dramatically. After losing their first six visits this century, the Clarets are unbeaten in their last four, including three consecutive draws.
Their Championship away record is even more impressive. During their previous promotion campaign, Burnley went 16 consecutive second-tier away matches unbeaten, winning 11 and drawing five. West Brom, meanwhile, have won only one of their last 14 league games against teams relegated from the Premier League the previous season, although they are unbeaten in the last six such fixtures at home. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion should approach their first home league fixture with confidence after opening the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City. The Baggies used a 4-4-2 in that win, and the same basic structure is expected against Burnley, with the emphasis on remaining compact before using their two forwards and wide players to attack quickly.
West Brom are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Max O’Leary starting in goal. Nolan Galves should operate at right-back, with Nathaniel Phillips and George Campbell forming the central defensive partnership. Callum Styles is expected to start at left-back and can provide additional attacking support when Albion have sustained possession.
The midfield should feature Felix Horn Myhre, Rabby Nzingoula, Jayson Molumby and Isaac Price. Nzingoula and Molumby can provide the physicality and defensive work required to compete with Burnley’s midfield, while Myhre and Price should have greater licence to advance and support the front two. Keeping Josh Cullen and Hannibal Mejbri from controlling the central areas will be one of their most important tactical assignments.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan should partner Aune Heggebo in attack. Both scored in West Brom’s 2-1 opening-day victory over Norwich, with Heggebo breaking the deadlock before Morgan added the decisive second goal. Heggebo should provide the physical focal point against Burnley’s centre-backs, while Morgan’s movement and ability to attack space can give the Baggies a more dynamic threat around him.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): O’Leary; Galves, Pjillips, Campbell, Styles; Myhre, Nzingoula, Molumby, Price; Morgan, Heggebo
Burnley
Burnley should take confidence from the manner of their 2-2 comeback against West Ham United, when Zian Flemming scored twice late on to rescue a point. Nicky Hayen is unlikely to make wholesale changes, although the Clarets will want a more controlled start after finding themselves two goals behind in their Championship opener.
Burnley are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Max Weiss starting in goal. Oliver Sonne should operate at right-back, with experienced Kyle Walker partnering Max Alleyne at the heart of the defence and Bashir Humphreys occupying the left-back position. Walker’s experience will be particularly important against West Brom’s physical front two.
Hannibal Mejbri and Ugo Raghouber should form the midfield double pivot. Mejbri can provide aggression and forward progression, while Raghouber should offer greater positional discipline and protection in front of the defence. Both will need to compete strongly for second balls against a West Brom side likely to make this a physical midfield battle.
Further forward, Marcus Edwards should operate from the right, with Aaron Ramsey in the central number 10 position and Jacob Bruun Larsen attacking from the left. Edwards’s ability to carry the ball and beat defenders could be particularly valuable if West Brom defend in a compact shape, while Ramsey will look for pockets of space behind Albion’s midfield.
Zian Flemming should lead the attack as the lone centre-forward. After scoring both goals against West Ham, including the late equaliser, he enters this contest as Burnley’s most obvious attacking threat. His movement and physical presence should provide a stern test for West Brom’s centre-backs, while his confidence in front of goal could prove decisive in what is expected to be a tight contest.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Weiss; Sonne, Walker, Aleyne, Humphreys; Hannibal, Raghouber; Edwards, Ramsey, Larsen; Flemming
Key Stats
- West Bromwich Albion are winless in their last seven league meetings with Burnley, drawing five and losing two.
- Draws dominate this fixture, seven of the last 12 meetings between the clubs have finished level, including each of the last two.
- West Brom started the season with a 2-1 victory at Norwich, while Burnley opened with a 2-2 draw against West Ham United.
- Burnley are unbeaten in their last four visits to The Hawthorns, with the most recent three all ending in draws.
- West Brom have won just one of their last 14 league games against teams relegated from the Premier League the previous season, although they are unbeaten in the last six such matches at home.
Player to Watch
Zian Flemming
The Dutch forward scored both goals in the 2-2 draw with West Ham, converting an 83rd-minute penalty before producing a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser. Expected to lead the line in Burnley’s 4-2-3-1, Flemming provides a physical presence but is equally dangerous when finding space around the penalty area. He can also operate as an attacking midfielder, giving Burnley flexibility in how they use him.
West Brom’s defence will need to track him particularly carefully inside the box. After conceding 58 Championship goals last season, allowing an in-form Flemming repeated opportunities could prove costly. He also appears to be Burnley’s primary penalty taker, further increasing his goalscoring potential. Following his opening-day brace, Flemming enters this fixture as the player most likely to provide the decisive attacking moment.
Prediction
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Burnley
West Brom’s opening victory should give them confidence, and The Hawthorns is unlikely to provide Burnley with an easy afternoon. Albion’s physical approach and ability from set pieces could cause problems for a defence that conceded 75 Premier League goals last season. Burnley nevertheless possess the stronger individual squad, and their comeback against West Ham demonstrated that they remain dangerous even when matches appear to be slipping away.
Flemming should again be central to their attacking threat, while Josh Cullen and Hannibal Mejbri could gradually give the visitors greater control in midfield. With three consecutive meetings at The Hawthorns ending level and both teams showing plenty of resilience on opening weekend, another draw looks the most plausible outcome.