Derby County vs West Bromwich Albion prediction, H2H and probable line-ups — January 23, 2026
As part of the 29th round of the English Championship, Derby County will face West Bromwich Albion. The match is set for Friday, January 23, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 Central European Time. I’m tipping this fixture to be a low-scoring affair.
Match preview
Derby County come into this game off the back of a string of mixed results. The Rams have displayed inconsistent form throughout the 2025/26 campaign: home matches often end in disappointment, but away from Pride Park, they have regularly and confidently picked up points.
In the last six Championship fixtures, Derby have managed just two wins, leaving their supporters anxious about their mid-table position. Notably, the Rams have collected 21 of their 38 points on the road, trailing only Coventry and Middlesbrough in this respect.
However, their home form remains a real concern. The absence of Carlton Morris, who netted 10 goals in 16 appearances before suffering an injury in late November, has been particularly damaging.
Tactically, Derby rely heavily on wing play and quick transitions into attack. In recent outings, they’ve placed special emphasis on set pieces, which have delivered several crucial goals.
West Bromwich Albion, on the other hand, are struggling this season and currently occupy a spot in the lower half of the Championship table. The Baggies are striving to play attacking, dynamic football, but the results have been far from encouraging.
Their biggest threat comes through central attacks and rapid transitions from defence to attack, but this leaves them exposed at the back, offering opponents plenty of space to exploit. West Brom’s away form has been particularly poor, with only Sheffield Wednesday collecting fewer points on their travels.
The key player for the Baggies is frontman Heggebo, who has been clinical in front of goal. His tally of 8 goals and 3 assists has had a significant impact on the team’s fortunes, though they are widely tipped for a relegation battle.
Currently sitting 19th, there’s little cause for optimism, but there’s still time to turn things around. The Baggies have conceded far too often and are just four points clear of Norwich, who occupy a relegation spot.
Match facts
- The Rams have lost their last two home matches.
- Derby have kept a clean sheet in only three of their last 11 games, winning all of those.
- West Bromwich have lost three consecutive Championship matches.
- The Baggies have lost their last 10 away league games.
- Derby average 1.2 goals per game at home, while West Bromwich average 0.9 goals per game away.
Probable line-ups
- Derby County: Videll Zetterstrom, Langas, Clarke, Ward, Ozoh, Elder, Travis, Clarke, Brereton Diaz, Agyeemang, Brewster.
- West Bromwich Albion: Griffiths, Taylor, Mepham, Phillips, Bielik, Price, Styles, Johnston, Grant, Ayling, Heggebo.
H2H
- West Bromwich have failed to beat Derby in their last seven meetings.
- Derby have not lost at home to West Bromwich since 2003.
Prediction
Derby have struggled at home, while their next opponents have been disastrous on the road. As a result, bookmakers find it tough to pick a favourite, offering near-identical odds for both sides. I don’t expect a goal fest here and will back under 2.5 total goals.
