Steve Bruce begins his reign as West Bromwich Albion manager with a fixture away at one of his former clubs in Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

While the sixth-placed Baggies sit three points clear of their hosts, the Blades have two matches in hand ahead of a showdown with one of their playoff rivals.

Match preview

When West Brom went down 2-0 at Millwall on January 29, it felt only a matter of time before Valerien Ismael was removed from his position as head coach.

Even with the security of a four-year contract, there was little justification to retain the Frenchman's services given the standard of football which was being produced, and it is difficult to argue that the club's hierarchy have not made a sensible decision in appointing Bruce.

Although the former Newcastle United boss will have his detractors, he has history of winning promotion from this division, and that is the be all and end all when it comes to the rest of West Brom's season.

In theory, the squad should relish the opportunity of a new playing style, but results may not come so easily with the West Midlands outfit having won just three of their last 13 league fixtures.

Nevertheless, it rarely gets pointed out that West Brom possess the joint-best defensive record in the division, and that gives Bruce something to work with ahead of a potentially-pivotal meeting on Wednesday night.

From Sheffield United's perspective, they were probably hoping that Ismael would have remained in charge for one more game, but the Blades are performing well enough to only be focused on their own displays.

Three wins in succession have been recorded against Luton Town, Peterborough United and Birmingham City, the latter two of those matches coming away from Bramall Lane.

The Blades have now won four of their last six away contests in the league, giving them the third best return, but perhaps the most important statistic going forward is that they still have 12 more home games to come.

Remarkably, five fewer fixtures have taken place at their Yorkshire home, and Paul Heckingbottom knows that taking advantage of that opportunity will keep his team as dark horses to even challenge for automatic promotion.

When these two clubs last met in August, West Brom posted a 4-0 win, but the teams have been going in opposite directions since Heckingbottom returned to Sheffield United in November.

Team News

Barring any injury issues, Heckingbottom may be prepared to stick with the side which edged out Birmingham on Friday.

However, there is scope for an attacking player coming into the team with Oli McBurnie, David McGoldrick or the recently-recalled Daniel Jebbison all in contention.

While Morgan Gibbs-White is close to returning from a knee injury, the Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee will only be named on the substitutes' bench at best.

Bruce will almost certainly make changes to the West Brom XI with Grady Diangana and Callum Robinson both pushing for a recall in the final third.

Semi Ajayi may return to the back three, while academy graduate Taylor Gardner-Hickman is an option at right wing-back.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Basham, Egan, Davies; Bogle, Norwood, Berge, Fleck, Norrington-Davies; Ndiaye; Sharp

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Clarke, Bartley, Ajayi; Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Townsend; Grant, Carroll, Diangana

We say: Sheffield United 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

Logic would suggest that West Brom will improve on their recent showings in their first game under a new manager. However, Sheffield United have all the momentum, and we are backing the home side to edge out the Baggies by the odd goal in three.

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