West Bromwich Albion vs Leeds United

27th December

Albion welcome Leeds United to The Hawthorns for their final game of 2023 on Friday night (ko 8.15pm).

Carlos Corberán's men head into the fixture having beaten Norwich City 1-0 in front of their own supporters on Boxing Day, with Brandon Thomas-Asante notching the winning goal.

Visitors Leeds, meanwhile, suffered a late 2-1 defeat to Preston at Deepdale in a game which saw their goalkeeper Illan Meslier receive a straight red card.

The first meeting this season ended in a 1-1 draw up at Elland Road in August, with both Brandon Thomas-Asante and Luke Ayling on the scoresheet.

Carlos Corberán's men are under the B71 lights for the final clash of the calendar year

Follow the fixture live

Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's encounter with Leeds United.

Gez Mulholland and former Baggie Andy Johnson will provide live commentary from The Hawthorns, with coverage starting at 8.05pm.

Audio passes are available to purchase here.

Details for video streaming on WBA TV will be available here from Thursday afternoon onwards.

Supporters are kindly asked to direct any questions or complaints about WBA TV or WBA Radio to wbatvsupport@streamamg.com.

The club are unable to answer queries about WBA TV or WBA Radio sent to fans@wbafc.co.uk or myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

Regular updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the night.

The opponents

Leeds United will be determined to make sure they're hot on the heels of top two Ipswich Town and Leicester City heading into 2024.

The Whites, who were relegated back to the second tier from the Premier League last season, have enjoyed a really strong opening half of the campaign, but still only find themselves in a play-off spot ahead of Friday's clash at The Hawthorns as opposed to inside the automatic promotion places.

They've picked up 45 points and 13 victories from their 24 completed fixtures, however, Daniel Farke's men were beaten 2-1 at Preston on Tuesday, a result which saw them slip to a second defeat in their last four.

Leeds are the only team yet to be beaten on home soil, but away from home, they've lost five of their 12 Sky Bet Championship encounters and they'll be intent on avoiding a third straight setback on their travels in the West Midlands.

Farke, the former Norwich City boss, was appointed in the summer and has a record of 14 victories, seven draws and five defeats from his 26 games in charge.

Leeds are hoping to hunt down Ipswich Town and Leicester City

One to remember

Albion produced a scintillating display to beat Leeds United 4-1 at The Hawthorns in November 2018.

Four different Baggies found the net in the second 45, including Hal Robson-Kanu, Matty Phillips, Harvey Barnes and Dwight Gayle.

Pablo Hernandez notched a late consolation for Leeds, but that goal did little to take the shine off a super showing at the Shrine.

The last five

Leeds United 1-1 Albion

August 18 2023, Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 3-1 Albion

May 23 2021, Premier League

Albion 0-5 Leeds United

December 29 2020, Premier League

Albion 1-1 Leeds United

January 1 2020, Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 1-0 Albion

October 1 2019, Sky Bet Championship

Brandon Thomas-Asante didn't know too much about his leveller at Leeds in August

Did you know?

Friday's clash will be the third meeting in-a-row between the two teams at The Hawthorns around New Year.

The Baggies last hosted Leeds what will be exactly three years ago on matchday (Dec 29, 2020), having also kicked 2020 off with a fixture against the Yorkshiremen on New Year's Day.

Defender Semi Ajayi scored for Albion against Leeds on January 1 in 2020

Ticket details

Tickets are on sale to Albion season ticket holders, members and supporters with a previous booking history on the database for the final match of 2023 against Leeds United.

Seats are priced £28 adults, £23 seniors, £17 for supporters aged 20-25, £12 for supporters aged 17-19 and just £5 under-17s.

An adult disabled supporter ticket is priced £18 and includes free access for a personal assistant.

Tickets can be purchased online, in-person from the East Stand Ticket Office or by calling 0121 227 2227.

When buying online, supporters will need to be logged into their My Albion account linked to their ticketing ID. Click here for instructions.

Please note, Baggies fans purchasing online and opting for an e-ticket will not pay any additional fees, while supporters who opt to purchase match tickets in-person or choose to collect from the club’s ticket office will be charged a £1.75 transaction fee.

Albion and Leeds United badges on the home ticket graphic

Fan Zone

Unfortunately, the Fan Zone will not be open ahead of kick-off on Friday night.

Always Albion tribute

Albion will pay homage to supporters and former players who have passed away during Friday night's clash with Leeds in the club’s annual ‘Always Albion’ remembrance tribute.

'Always Albion' is now in its sixth year and has proved to be a moving spectacle as the names and photographs of supporters appear on the big screens. The video feature will also be published on the club’s website and social media channels in the following days after the Sky Bet Championship encounter.

Those who are remembered this year will appear on the big screens at The Hawthorns at around 8pm, as well as featuring in the matchday production of Albion News.

Travel advice

Transport for West Midlands have offered the below advice:

What is happening?

- Buses will be operating a Saturday service

- Trains are operating with usual match day services

- Metro will be operating as normal

What should you do?

- Plan ahead and leave more time for your journey

- Check timetables ahead of travel for last minute disruptions

- To check festive services please visit www.tfwm.org.uk/festive and use the Journey planner

- Could you drive for part of your journey? There are plenty of Park and Ride locations which will be quieter than normal

- If you do need to drive, please car share if you can

29th December

Albion won a second successive Sky Bet Championship match on Friday night, beating Leeds United 1-0 at The Hawthorns.

Grady Diangana’s 37th minute goal was enough to earn all three points in front of a sold-out crowd, and bring 2023 to a close with a fantastic victory.

The Baggies, who remain fifth, open the New Year by visiting Swansea City this Monday.

The boss brought in Semi Ajayi and Jayson Molumby for Kyle Bartley and John Swift as he made two switches to the team that beat Norwich on Boxing Day.

His side kept the visitors at bay in the early stages - Cedric Kipre blocking Joel Piroe’s shot, while Ajayi’s goal-saving tackle denied Georginio Rutter a great chance to score.

The biggest scare came 17 minutes into the game, Sam Byram seeing his tap-in disallowed for offside - and the momentum then changed.

Molumby threatened via a side-footed effort before Kipre had a goal-bound volley cleared off the line during a solid period of Albion attacks.

And the hosts’ pressure soon resulted in the opening goal - which arrived following some wonderful build-up from the Baggies. Okay Yokuslu played Jed Wallace in down the right, and the winger’s cross fell perfectly to Diangana, who converted at the second attempt.

The Baggies held their advantage when the half-time whistle was blown - and even though they initially set about getting another early in the second 45, Leeds quickly turned the tide.

Joe Rodon headed over, Wilfriend Gnonto and Jaidon Anthony fired off-target, and Okay Yokuslu diverted a Crysencio Summerville shot wide in a dangerous United spell.

That prompted Corberán to alter his XI, and his substitutions worked a treat. Albion were able to see the clash out relatively comfortably in the end, putting in a brilliant, resolute defensive shift and claiming an impressive triumph.

Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Kipre, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby (Bartley 69), Mowatt (Chalobah 76); Wallace (Reach 70), Thomas-Asante (Sarmiento 86), Diangana (Swift 69).

Substitutes: Griffiths, Pieters, Pipa, Fellows.

Attendance: 25,409.

Friday 29th December 2023 - 20:15