West Brom vs Burnley - Championship

The Championship returns to The Hawthorns on August 23, 2026, where West Brom and Burnley will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. Rush will take over under centre for the Falcons as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, with the team’s quarterback situation taking an unexpected turn heading into the season opener.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Championship contest at The Hawthorns offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts have been steady if unspectacular, LDWWD in their last five reflecting a win rate of 50%. Road trips have been a source of frustration for the visitors — DLDLD in their last five, a season win rate of 36.96%. Where West Brom have built their campaign on solidity, Burnley have often chased flair, and that fundamental difference should make for compelling viewing. The on-loan Southampton striker had scored on his debut for Auxerre in defeat last weekend but followed it up with the winning goal against Nice to earn his old boss Will Still his first points in the job.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. West Brom will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Burnley must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. Tottenham have changed their approach and are spending big on players who already know the Premier League.

With C. Larin leading the league's scoring charts at 7 goals, the contest is unlikely to be short of attacking intent. The wide areas will be a key battleground, with full-backs and wingers on either side capable of swinging the contest one way or the other. Speaking to The United Stand, he claims Michael Carrick would potentially prefer a player like Aurelien Tchouameni over the Roma midfielder, or an alternative with Premier League experience.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 2-2 draw is easy to envisage. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Championship standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. It is understood that his next move is most likely to take him abroad - and potentially to the Premier League.