West Brom vs Watford

West Bromwich Albion welcome Watford to The Hawthorns on Saturday, 5 September, in a Championship fixture that pits two of the division's early pacesetters against one another. James Morrison's side have won their opening two league games, while new Hornets head coach Alessio Dionisi remains unbeaten with four points from two matches.

Albion's perfect start has been a sharp contrast to their 2025/26 campaign, in which they finished just four points above the relegation zone. Victories over Norwich City and Burnley have propelled them to second place on goal difference, though they were pushed hard by Middlesbrough before this international break.

Watford have negotiated a testing set of early fixtures, beating Southampton and drawing with both Wrexham and West Ham United. The Hornets travelled to the West Midlands in buoyant mood, knowing a result could keep them among the early frontrunners.

Team News and Injury Latest

West Brom are expected to recall several regulars after making widespread changes for their midweek cup fixture. Max O'Leary is set to return in goal, with Nolan Galves, Nat Phillips and Callum Styles all likely to come back into the back four.

Further forward, Morrison could retain the front pairing of Jimmy-Jay Morgan and Barney Stewart, who started against Middlesbrough. Aune Heggebo, Kareem Tunde and Rabby Nzingoula all featured from the bench at the Riverside and offer attacking alternatives.

Watford will be without at least five players for the trip north. Marc Bola (hamstring) and Jeremy Ngakia (hamstring) remain sidelined, while Kwadwo Baah (thigh), Jack Grieves (knee) and Travis Akomeah (foot) are also unavailable. Akomeah is expected to resume on-pitch training next week.

Omar Traore is available after being replaced during the draw at Wrexham, giving Dionisi a full-back option.

West Brom Form Guide

Two wins from two represents a dream start for a side that spent much of last season looking over its shoulder. West Brom edged past Norwich on the opening weekend and then saw off Burnley, a club with promotion aspirations, to sit second in the fledgling table.

Their first-half display at Middlesbrough last time out drew praise, though Albion struggled to contain their hosts after the interval. The quick turnaround between that match and this one may test Morrison's squad depth, but the depth shown by substitutes at the Riverside suggests there is competition for places.

West Brom's recent home record will encourage them: the visit of Charlton Athletic earlier this month brought a positive result, and The Hawthorns has traditionally been a difficult venue for visiting sides.

Watford's Unbeaten Start Under Dionisi

Alessio Dionisi has made a quietly impressive start as Watford's latest head coach. Four points from three matches — including a win over Southampton and a draw at Wrexham — have calmened a fanbase accustomed to managerial turnover. Should Watford avoid defeat here, Dionisi would become the first Hornets boss to collect seven points from his opening three league games since Rob Edwards in 2022/23, a period that has seen seven permanent managers in the Vicarage Road dugout.

The Hornets have shown resilience on the road, digging in for a point at a tricky Wrexham side last weekend. Their attacking credentials have been praised, though an injury-depleted defence faces a stern examination against a West Brom side that has scored freely in the early weeks of the season.

Key Battle: Nat Phillips vs Watford's Forward Line

Nat Phillips is expected to anchor the Albion defence after sitting out the midweek cup tie, and his aerial ability and physical presence will be tested by a Watford attack that has troubled every defence it has faced. The Hornets have scored in each of their league outings and carry individual threat in the final third, with the pace of their wide players a particular danger on the counter-attack.

West Brom's full-backs — likely Galves and Styles — will need to balance attacking instincts with defensive discipline. Watford have shown they can hurt teams in transition, and Dionisi's side will look to exploit any space left in behind during an encounter that promises attacking intent from both ends.

West Brom return to action at Derby County on 9 September, while Watford's next assignment sees them continue a demanding run of fixtures as they aim to cement their place among the early-season contenders.