West Bromwich Albion have had a rough ride lately. Ryan Mason is out, and the hope is that Ramsay can spark an immediate reaction from a squad that feels underpowered. They were gutted by that 2-1 loss to Leicester City, where a late goal ruined their afternoon. Still, there is a glimmer of hope after they edged past Swansea in the FA Cup on penalties. It wasn’t pretty, but Josh Maja and Jed Wallace getting on the scoresheet should boost confidence. Can they finally find some defensive stability? They have only kept one clean sheet in 14 games, which is a massive worry when facing a high scoring visitor.

The Baggies are dealing with some notable absences, specifically Ousmane Diakite on leave. With Jayson Molumby and Alex Mowatt sidelined, the midfield looks a bit thin. Krystian Bielik might have to step up into the engine room to partner Callum Styles. Up front, Aune Heggebo remains the main threat with eight goals this season. Ramsay needs his big players to perform because 18th place is a dangerous spot to linger. They average 10.25 corners at home, suggesting they do get the ball forward, but the finishing touch has been missing far too often lately. It’s hard to say how this transition will affect the rhythm of the squad on Friday night.

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, are a different beast. Kim Hellberg has them playing some lovely football, even if the festive period was a bit of a slog. That 4-0 demolition of Southampton showed exactly what they are capable of when things click. Morgan Whittaker is in the form of his life, bagging seven goals in his last ten league outings. Even though they tumbled out of the FA Cup to Fulham, they gave a good account of themselves. Sitting just two points ahead of Ipswich, there is zero room for complacency. They will likely dominate possession and try to exploit an Albion defense that looks shaky at best. Today’s Championship Predictions often favor the side with momentum, and Boro certainly have it.

Injuries have ravaged Boro’s backline, with the likes of Lenihan and Brittain still out. However, Dael Fry returning to the bench last week is a huge plus. They might have to stick with a somewhat makeshift defense, but they’ve still managed to be one of the stingiest teams in the league, conceding only 16 goals all season. That defensive discipline is exactly why they are second. Even so, playing away from home always brings challenges. They average 1.31 goals on their travels, which isn’t massive, but it’s usually enough when your defense is that tight. That’s a bold move to keep such a high line with injuries, but it seems to be working for Hellberg so far.

Expect a tactical battle here. West Brom will likely be conservative, hoping the new manager bounce gives them an edge in intensity. Middlesbrough will be patient, looking for Whittaker to find a pocket of space. The stats show West Brom concede nearly a goal a game at home, while Boro aren’t exactly goal machines on the road, averaging 1.15 conceded. It feels like a game of fine margins. Will the Hawthorns crowd be enough to rattle the visitors? Or will Boro’s superior quality shine through? It is a tough one to call, but the stats lean towards a low scoring affair where the visitors might just have too much for a transitioning West Brom side.