West Bromwich Albion prepare for Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns

West Bromwich Albion, sitting sixth in the Championship, host ninth-placed Blackburn Rovers on Saturday in a match that sees former boss Tony Mowbray return to The Hawthorns.

West Bromwich Albion prepare for a key Championship fixture at home to Blackburn Rovers this Saturday afternoon. The 3pm kick-off at The Hawthorns pits the sixth-placed Baggies against a Rovers side sitting just two points behind them in ninth, with both teams arriving on the back of midweek victories. The full fixtures list shows this as a key encounter in the early-season standings, where a win for either side could significantly alter the playoff picture.

Albion come into the game buoyed by a dramatic 2-1 comeback win at Wrexham on Tuesday. Isaac Price and Aune Heggebo scored in the final 11 minutes to secure the three points, a result that lifted the side to 17 points from their opening 10 league games. That late fightback followed a frustrating 1-0 home defeat to Birmingham City last weekend, part of a recent run of mixed form at The Hawthorns where they have taken just one point from their last two outings.

Mowbray's Hawthorns return

The match carries added narrative weight with the return of Tony Mowbray. The 62-year-old, who led West Brom to the Championship title in 2008 and returned for a second spell as manager in 2025, is now in charge of Blackburn. He will face off against James Morrison, the player he brought to the club in 2007, who is currently leading the Baggies. The last meeting between the sides at Ewood Park in April ended in a goalless draw.

Blackburn arrive in confident mood, aiming for a third consecutive league win. They defeated Bristol City 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a long-range strike from Oladapo Afolayan, extending an unbeaten run that has yielded 10 points from their last four matches. Their recent form has been built on a strong defensive record, keeping clean sheets in their last two outings. Manager Mowbray will be hoping to exploit any lingering inconsistency in West Brom's home performances.

Coverage of the match on WBA Radio will begin at 2.45pm. Presenter Gez Mulholland confirmed the broadcast details, stating, "WBA Radio duo Gez Mulholland and former player, Andy Johnson, will provide live coverage from The Hawthorns, starting from 2.45pm." The match kicks off at The Hawthorns on Saturday, October 17.