West Bromwich Albion begin a new chapter on Friday night as they welcome Middlesbrough to The Hawthorns in a Championship fixture that marks the first match in charge for Eric Ramsay.
West Brom v Middlesbrough kicks off at 8pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with streaming available via the Sky Go app in the UK.
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Albion head into the contest sitting 18th in the Championship after a difficult run of form.
Four defeats in their last five league matches led to a change in the dugout, with Ramsay replacing Ryan Mason as the club looks to halt their slide and rebuild momentum. Promotion ambitions already feel distant, with West Brom now in their fifth consecutive season outside the Premier League.
Ramsay arrives with a growing reputation despite his young managerial career. He most recently guided Minnesota United to the MLS semi finals in his first senior role and previously gained experience on the coaching staff at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag.
Even so, taking charge midway through the season brings challenges, especially with such a demanding opening assignment.
Home form has been one of the few positives for West Brom this season. They have picked up 22 of their 31 league points at The Hawthorns, a sharp contrast to their struggles on the road.
Six defeats in their last eight league games underline the scale of the task Ramsay faces, even after last weekend’s FA Cup progress against Swansea following a 2-2 draw.
Middlesbrough arrive in the West Midlands occupying second place in the table, six points behind leaders Coventry City.
Their recent league form has been mixed, with Sunday’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Southampton standing as their only win in the last six league and cup matches combined.
Under Swedish head coach Kim Hellberg, Boro made an impressive start to the campaign before results dipped over the festive period.
The Southampton victory offered signs of momentum returning, while Boro also showed promise in the FA Cup last weekend.
They led at half time away to Premier League Fulham before eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat, a performance that still highlighted their ability to compete against higher level opposition.
Recent head to head meetings strongly favour Middlesbrough. Boro have won the last four clashes between the sides, including a 2-1 victory at the Riverside Stadium back in September.
With Albion adjusting to new leadership and Middlesbrough chasing automatic promotion, the Boro may sense an opportunity. Their away record includes five league wins already this season, and another success would reinforce their credentials at the top end of the Championship table.
