Leicester City faces West Brom tonight and the Baggies aim to extend their unbeaten streak, but nine consecutive away defeats tell deeper story

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By: Michael Brown

Leicester City faces West Bromwich Albion tonight in a crucial Championship clash at the King Power Stadium. The Baggies will be desperate to break an awful run of form that has seen them lose nine consecutive away games.

🔥 Quick Facts

  • Leicester City sit 14th in Championship with 34 points after relegation from Premier League
  • West Brom are 18th on 31 points and have lost nine straight away matches (worst run since 1973)
  • Leicester won five of their last six meetings with West Brom, including 2-1 at home in April 2024
  • Kick-off is 20:00 GMT on January 5 at King Power Stadium

Leicester’s Pressure to Spark Upturn After Poor Form

Marti Cifuentes and Leicester City are under intense pressure after a concerning run of results. The Foxes lost three of their last four matches before New Year’s, with a 3-1 defeat away at Sheffield United being their most recent outing.

Leicester did manage a 2-0 win over Derby County before that loss, showing they can compete. However, their defensive record remains alarming. Only four Championship teams have conceded more goals this season, and Leicester haven’t kept a clean sheet since their goalless draw against Coventry City.

Playing at home gives the Foxes a significant advantage, and they’ll need to capitalize on that tonight against struggling visitors. Their attack features Fatawu, who scored multiple worldies in recent matches.

West Brom’s Away Day Nightmare Reaches Crisis Point

Ryan Mason’s West Bromwich Albion faces a daunting test tonight as they continue one of the worst away runs in the club’s history. Nine successive defeats on the road represents the Baggies’ poorest traveling record in 53 years, dating back to 1973.

West Brom has won just two of their last eight meetings with Leicester overall, with their most recent away loss coming 1-0 at Swansea City on New Year’s Day. Jay Fulton scored the decisive goal that night. The pressure on Mason to end this away curse is mounting as his side sits in 18th place with 31 points from 25 matches.

The Baggies have managed 9 wins and 4 draws this season but must address their traveling woes immediately. Last away win came on October 1, making tonight a golden opportunity to ignite their season.

Team News and Injury Considerations Shape Both Lineups

Team Key Absences Notable Returns
Leicester City Victor Kristiansen, Harry Souttar, Boubakary Soumare, Aaron Ramsey Hamza Choudhury, Jordan Ayew pushing for starts
West Brom Jed Wallace (injury), Tammer Bany (4-month absence) Alfie Gilchrist returns after 3-match ban

Leicester have significant injury concerns that could impact team selection. Aaron Ramsey missed last week’s Sheffield United match with a hamstring issue and remains doubtful. The absence of defensive stalwarts Kristiansen and Souttar continues to weaken Leicester’s backline.

West Brom’s squad is also stretched with the long-term loss of Tammer Bany expected to sideline him for approximately four months. The return of Alfie Gilchrist provides defensive cover after his three-match suspension concluded.

Head-to-Head History Favors Leicester in Tonight’s Encounter

Leicester holds a compelling record against West Brom in recent years. The Foxes have won five of their last six meetings with the Baggies, including a 2-1 success at the King Power Stadium in April 2024. Overall, Leicester’s home dominance against West Brom provides confidence heading into tonight’s match.

West Brom have taken just two points from their last eight meetings with Leicester across all competitions. Their away form against specific rivals remains a critical weakness. The Baggies’ last away victory over Leicester came in the Premier League back in November 2016, more than nine years ago.

Leicester can draw inspiration from these statistics, though they cannot afford complacency given their own recent defensive struggles. West Brom, conversely, will see this as their moment to prove critics wrong and ignite a revival.

Will Tonight Mark a Turning Point for Either Team’s Season?

Both clubs enter this fixture needing a positive result desperately. Leicester City requires consistency to climb the table and challenge for promotion, while West Bromwich Albion must end their catastrophic away run before it determines their entire season. Tonight at the King Power Stadium could prove decisive for both teams’ trajectories in the Championship.

The fixture presents Leicester with an opportunity to build on home advantage and climbing the table. For West Brom, this represents a chance to break free from their traveling curse and inject momentum into their campaign. Both managers face scrutiny, making tonight’s result crucial for their respective futures at the clubs.

Sources

  • Sports Mole – Comprehensive match preview with team news and lineups
  • BBC Sport – Live coverage and Championship standings
  • ESPN – Match statistics and performance data

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