West Bromwich Albion face a challenging EFL Cup second-round tie away at Premier League side Newcastle United this Wednesday. The Championship club, currently sitting 6th in the league with six points from three games, will look to continue their flawless competitive start at St James' Park.
Kick-off is scheduled for 21:45 BST on August 26. A place in the competition's third round is the prize for the winner. This fixture was reported by sports.yahoo.com.
How have West Brom started the season?
James Morrison's side have won all three of their competitive matches so far. They opened their Championship campaign with victories over Norwich City and Burnley. Their EFL Cup journey began with a convincing 4-1 first-round win at Rotherham United.
Their league form shows two wins and one loss, scoring six goals and conceding five. This leaves them with a positive goal difference and just three points behind early leaders Charlton Athletic. You can track their progress on our standings page.
Who are the key players for West Brom?
Young forward Jimmy-Jay Morgan has been in excellent form, finding the net in each of the club's three matches this season. His goals have been vital to their perfect record. However, the squad faces a potential setback with winger Mikey Johnston considered a doubt due to an ankle problem.
The team's overall defensive record of five goals conceded in three games will be tested against top-flight opposition. Fans can view the full roster details on our squad page.
What is the challenge against Newcastle?
Newcastle United present a formidable obstacle. They are the defending EFL Cup holders, having won the competition in the 2024-25 season. Under manager Matthias Jaissle, they have reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the last four campaigns.
Their recent home record against West Brom is strong, with four wins from the last six meetings at St James' Park. Jaissle has emphasized the competition's importance. "First of all, it's a big competition due to the history of the club," he said. "We are aware of that, and I'm looking forward already to playing that round."
What is Newcastle's current situation?
The Magpies are coming off a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool, where Joe Willock and Anthony Elanga scored before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer. They have several injury concerns, including defender Dan Burn who is out with ankle ligament damage. Joelinton, Tino Livramento, and Will Osula are also unavailable.
Jaissle is expected to rotate his squad, with players like Fabian Schar, Jacob Ramsey, Nick Woltemade, Jacob Murphy, Willock, Ewan Jaouen, and Bazoumana Toure likely to start. The manager has spoken about wanting a "magic touch in the cups."
What comes next for West Brom?
Regardless of the cup result, West Brom's focus will quickly return to the Championship. Their next fixture is a significant league encounter at home against table-toppers Charlton Athletic on September 2. This match is a key early-season test in the title race.
You can find details for all upcoming matches on our fixtures schedule. The team's recent form of two wins and a loss provides a solid platform as they prepare for this important run of games.
