Bristol City vs West Bromwich Albion

23rd December

It's Bristol City away for the Baggies on Boxing Day this year (ko 3pm).

Carlos Corberán's side head down to the West Country hoping to get back to winning ways following Wednesday night's narrow 1-0 defeat against Coventry City.

The Robins, managed by former Albion caretaker boss Nigel Pearson, are two points and two places behind the Baggies in the table.

Monday's hosts have won one and lost one since returning to action following the World Cup break, slipping to a 2-1 setback at home to Stoke in their most recent fixture.

Albion will travel to Ashton Gate on Boxing day for some festive football

Follow the game live

Albion fans inside and outside the United Kingdom (selected countries) can watch Albion's clash with the Robins live on WBA TV. A video match pass is available to purchase for £10 here.

Supporters can also listen to live audio commentary on WBA Radio.

Gez Mulholland and Andy Johnson will bring you every kick from Ashton Gate. Audio passes can be purchased for £2.50 here.

Live updates will be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the afternoon.

Our opponents

Bristol City will be hoping to recapture their early season form as they head into the festive period and 2023.

The Robins lost just two of their first ten matches in all competitions, winning six of those and drawing the other two.

Recently, however, Monday's hosts have found victories hard to come by and have tasted success in just one of their last eight fixtures in league and cup.

Nigel Pearson's side were beaten 2-1 at home by Stoke City in their most recent game, their sixth straight outing at Ashton Gate where they've failed to win.

The former Albion caretaker boss will be demanding improvement from his group, who defeated the Baggies 2-0 at The Hawthorns back in mid-October thanks to efforts from Joe Williams and Nahki Wells.

A triumph on Boxing Day would be a big boost for Bristol City, with the Robins sat three points above the drop zone in 18th heading into the encounter.

Bristol City will want momentum to swing back in their favour

From the Albion Archive

Albion sensationally beat Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate in February 2020 on their way to securing promotion to the Premier League.

Callum Robinson nodded in the opener before Hal Robson-Kanu bagged a brace, scoring either side of half time.

One for the stattos

Albion have scored in all of their last seven trips to Ashton Gate, notching at least twice there in the three most recent visits.

The last time the Baggies failed to find the back of the net in the red half of Bristol was back in April 1995 when they lost 1-0 to the Robins in a Division One clash.

Former forward Jay Rodriguez was on target at Bristol City in April 2019

Colours for the road

The Baggies will don their green and yellow away kit at Bristol City on Boxing Day.

Albion last wore those colours in the 2-1 win up at Sunderland earlier in December.

Albion celebrate at Sunderland while wearing the club's away colours

Ticket details

Tickets have sold out for the Boxing Day trip to Ashton Gate.

The Baggies will be backed by 2,503 supporters when they face the Robins.

Any supporters collecting tickets from the Ticket Office for Albion's clash with Bristol City need to do so by midday on Saturday, December 24.

Any uncollected tickets will be sent to Ashton Gate to pick up.

Baggies fans who have not received their tickets in the post should notify the Ticket Office by Friday, December 23 so re-prints can be arranged.

Additional information

Supporters should be aware that there is now a Clean Air Zone live in Bristol.

Although Ashton Gate itself sits just outside the zone, some roads near the stadium are within it, so fans are encouraged to carefully plan their journey and complete the vehicle compliance checker by clicking here.

26th December

Goals either side of half time earned Albion an important 0-2 victory at Bristol City on Boxing Day.

Matty Phillips’ 10th minute finish, combined with Brandon Thomas-Asante’s second half stunner, ensured the Baggies got back to winning ways and claimed all three Sky Bet Championship points.

Next up Carlos Corberán’s team return to The Hawthorns in search of a fourth consecutive home victory, facing Preston North End this Thursday (December 29).

Albion’s Head Coach made two changes for the festive fixture, bringing in Jayson Molumby and Daryl Dike for Tom Rogic and Thomas-Asante.

The hosts were denied an early opener by Alex Palmer, the goalkeeper doing brilliantly to keep out Tommy Conway’s finish at point-blank range.

Instead, it was the Baggies who took the lead soon after when Conor Townsend’s perfect pass was coolly converted by Phillips, sending the 2,500 travelling supporters wild.

Albion soon survived another scare, Phillips inadvertently heading against his own crossbar from a City corner, before down the other end Townsend’s close-range poke was somehow cleared off the line during a spell of pressure where the visitors really should have netted a second.

The Robins piled on the pressure late in the first half without managing to find an equaliser, as Palmer again superbly denied Conway and defenders Dara O’Shea and Darnell Furlong bravely blocked a number of close-range shots.

Following the break it was, initially, a much quieter game. Substitutes Thomas-Asante and Grady Diangana were brought on to forge opportunities and did exactly that, the former forcing a good save from Max O’Leary and the latter hitting an effort into a wall of City defenders.

Thomas-Asante didn’t have to wait long for his goal, though. 15 minutes from time he was given the ball by fellow sub Rogic, and he produced a sumptuous long-range chip to wrap-up the triumph in style.

Palmer then made another good stop in added time to preserve his well-deserved clean sheet and send the Albion fans back up the M5 full of festive joy.

Albion: Palmer; Furlong, O’Shea, Pieters, Townsend; Molumby (Gardner-Hickman 82), Yokuslu; Wallace (Diangana 71), Swift (Rogic 64), Phillips (Grant 82); Dike (Thomas Asante 64).

Substitutes: Button, Ajayi.

Monday 26th December 2022 - 15:00