As it happened: West Brom 2-0 Derby in EFL Championship

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Derby's unbeaten run ends and West Brom move above Leeds, who play tomorrow, to the top of the Championship.

The gap to third-placed Brentford is five points with four games remaining. Derby, meanwhile, remain three points off the play-offs.

90 +7': The final whistle goes and West Brom have won this game comfortably.

A first half goal from Grady Diangana was backed up by Dara O'Shea's header, and Derby didn't trouble the Baggies in the slightest.

Louie Sibley was sent off late on for kicking out at O'Shea, but there didn't look to be much in it, and the decision could be overturned on appeal.

90 +7': A couple of minutes left in this one. West Brom are in the driving seat and, unless there's some late drama, they will be heading to the top of the Championship.

90 +3': There's no way that's a red card. Following a tangle of legs, O'Shea locked Sibley's foot between his legs and Sibley pulled his foot away. O'Shea made a meal of it and Sibley was shown the red card.

That should get overturned on appeal.

90 +2': Oh.

Derby's disciplinary problems continue as Louie Sibley gets his marching orders for kicking out at Dara O'Shea.

90 +1': Great play from Callum Robinson and he forces a save out of Hamer.

90': Bogle is booked for a foul on Krovinovic after losing the ball high up the pitch.

We're about to find out how much stoppage time will be played.

87': One gets the feeling this game is going to kind of die out now. 

Derby still haven't had a shot on target. West Brom certainly deserve this win.

84': Phillip Cocu swaps Chris Martin and Wayne Rooney for Jordan Brown and Jahmal Hector-Ingram, who are both making their debuts.

84': Filip Krovinovic and Matt Phillips replace Kamil Grosicki and Matheus Pereira for the hosts.

80': Martin goes to ground and, er, picks up the ball. The referee blows for handball.

It's been a frustrating day for the forward.

78': It's two for West Brom, and that should be that.

It's a simple corner from Pereira, and Dara O'Shea runs to the near post and heads past Ben Hamer to double his side's lead.

A lot of questions to be answered defensively, there.

76': Derby earn a corner. Buchanan bumps into Hamer as the 'keeper catches the ball, and it trickles out for a corner.

75': Very close from Pereira. Robinson gets a good cross in and the midfielder kicks at the ball completely unmarked from six yards, but doesn't connect properly.

73': A handball call goes against Sibley and the ball is carried forward quickly by Pereira. He shoots, but Hamer saves well.

Jason Knight then gets booked for what seemed like dissent.

72': Rooney whips in a free kick but Bartley clears. West Brom then break through Grosicki and appeal for a penalty as as Pereira goes to ground, but the referee waves appeals away.

70': The second and final drinks break of the game is now taking place.

West Brom are good going forward, but they're also pretty decent defensively - their 4231 setup holding firm as Derby enjoyed a bit of possession just before the break,

67': Buchanan's cross is met by Martin but the Scot heads across goal and his pass is intercepted. A home attack is then halted for offside.

65': It's Craig Forsyth and Graeme Shinnie coming off. They're replaced by Jason Knight and Lee Buchanan.

65': Sibley shoots from distance but that's well over and not threatening Johnstone's goal.

A double change is on its way from Phillip Cocu.

62': It's still all West Brom and Derby can't get a break right now. They're still yet to have a shot on target, and changes must be on their way soon.

61': Grosicki is in down the right again behind Bogle but is cross is poor and Derby have a goal kick.

59': Charlie Austin looks less than impressed as he's replaced by Hal Robson-Kanu, who is wears the number four. Ew.

57': Grosicki runs a long way down the left wing with Bogle on the floor and Rooney gets back to block just in time ahead of Pereira.

Brilliant defensive work from England's record goalscorer.

55': O'Shea's cross is cleared behind for a corner by Bogle, but Shinnie clears for another.

Derby eventually clear.

West Brom have started this half as they ended the last; on top.

52': Diangana can't carry on, which is a big blow for West Brom. Callum Robinson replaces him.

It looks like a clash of knees with Morgan Whittaker caused the injury.

50': Good play from Livermore and Pereira forces a smart low save from Ben Hamer low to his left.

A pause in play now as Diangana receives some treatment.

50': Diangana breaks free from Forsyth but Pereira's cross is just in front of the goalscorer.

Derby are lacking the pace to break, and West Brom regain possession.

48': Pereira's cross is cleared by Evans before O'Shea's is blocked by Bogle.

46': We're back underway for the second half, and Derby have plenty to do.

No changes from either side at the break.

The players are back out on the pitch and the second half will be underway soon.

We're hoping for more in the second half, and Phillip Cocu will be, too.

Slaven Bilic, on the other hand, would probably take more of the same. His team are heading top of the league.

Well, it's not been a classic. Diangana's goal separates the sides but there haven't been many threatening efforts on goal.

Holmes and Austin had efforts on target for their respective teams, but there's just the one goal in it so far.

45 +5': The referee blows for half time and it's West Brom who lead and are on course to go to the top of the Championship table.

Grady Diangana's goal separates the two sides at the break, despite the wide man looking off side when Kamil Grosicki played him in.

Plenty for both managers to ponder.

45 +5': Substitute Whittaker is booked for what is either a dive or deliberate handball. Either way, it wasn't pretty.

45 +4': Diangana breaks and plays an unusual pass high to Austin on the edge of the box. Ben Hamer has to get down to save, and Semi Ajayi then shoots wide.

45 +1': Four minutes are added onto the end of the first half.

43': Evans has to cut out an Austin pass but Morgan Whittaker is on for Duane Holmes. The wide man had been feeling what looked to be his hamstring, and he can't continue.

41': It's all West Brom right now and they're showing why they're one of the best teams in the league.

A number of passes conclude with Livermore shooting well wide.

39': Sawyers plays a nice ball into Grosicki and Evans has to head away in front of Austin.

Pereira then wins a corner after showing some good feet, but Derby clear.

35': A little bit of tension between Grosicki and Sibley after one of the linesmen award Derby a throw.

Bird is back on.

33': West Brom are enjoying  sustained spell of possession but Shinnie closes down Austin's effort from distance.

A break in play now with Max Bird down injured.

30': West Brom move the ball forward nicely but Grosicki fires over from the edge of the box.

The former Hull City man has been at the forefront of things for the hosts so far here.

29': Chris Martin comes deep to get involved but he passes behind Holmes and out of play.

That pretty much sums up Derby's half so far.

27': The ever-energetic Bogle gets forward down the right and crosses, but his ball is too long and Derby have to build up again from the back.

25': We're into our first drinks break and it's pretty comfortable for West Brom at the minute. They lead through West Ham loanee Grady Diangana, and 'keeper Sam Johnstone hasn't had a save to make as of yet.

24': Shinnie hacks down Pereira and gets a yellow card for his troubles. Phillip Cocu won't be pleased to see his defensive midfielder pick up a card so early.

22': Derby's first effort of the game comes through Graeme Shinnie, but he slices his effort over.

Nice build up play, though.

20': There was a lot of talk about discipline leading up to this game, given Derby are without two of their best players in Tom Lawrence and Martyn Waghorn through suspension, whilst Ahmed Hegazy sits out for West Brom following a red card against Hull at the weekend.

Baggies boss Slaven Bilic was sent off when these two drew 1-1 at Pride Park earlier this season, too.

 

West Brom, meanwhile, waste a free kick.

18': Sibley goes down in the area and Derby players call for a penalty but referee Jeremy Simpson blows the other way for a high boot.

16': It should be two for West Brom.

Livermore cuts out a Forsyth pass and Pereira is fed the ball in the area. Derby get back, though, and the midfielder drags his shot wide.

15': A home cross is blocked before Bartley heads a corner wide.

Derby need to stand strong, here. They don't want one goal to run into two.

12': Out of nowhere, we have an opener.

Diangana is picked out by Grosicki, who plays a defence-splitting pass, and the number 29 slots past the on-rushing Ben Hamer to put his side ahead.

It looked as if Diangana was slightly offside, but there was no flag and we have no VAR, so the goal stands.

10': George Evans' long ball is gathered easily by Johnstone.

The hosts are growing into things, mind. They move the ball out wide well but Grosicki's effort is well over.

7': Forsyth loses out to Diangana on the half way line before Clarke blocks his effort. 

A pretty slow start to proceedings here in West Bromwich.

5': Some nice early possession for Derby as Johnstone kicks into touch.

Sibley then crosses and finds Holmes, but the wide man takes too long to shoot and his effort is blocked.

2': There were a few questions before the game about Derby's formation tonight, but it looks like it's going to be a 4231 to start with Sibley on the right, Holmes on the left and Rooney in behind Martin.

Grosicki fouls Bogle early on.

1': After a moment to take the knee, the visitors get us underway. Here we go!

The players are making their ways onto the pitch, surrounded by empty stands.

Kick off is now just moments way.

We are 10 minutes away from kick off at The Hawthorns, and a really exciting game (hopefully) awaits us.

It's pretty much a must win for both teams - we'll be underway soon.

Following Cardiff's defeat to Blackburn last night, Derby can move level on points with Neil Harris' side with a win here. They can overtake City with a big victory, and, with five wins from their last six games, Phillip Cocu's men will be sky high in confidence.

So as we mentioned earlier, West Brom have won their last two but find themselves in a battle for the automatics after a wobbly period either side of the break.

The Baggies are just two points ahead of Brentford in third after the Bees' win against Charlton last night, and will be hoping they can open up a five-point gap here.

Derby manager Phillip Cocu has made just one change from the team that drew 1-1 with rivals Nottingham Forest on Saturday, as Graeme Shinnie replaces the suspended Martyn Waghorn.

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic has made four changes to the team that saw off Hull City on Sunday.

With Ahmed Hegazy suspended and Kieran Gibbs injured, Semi Ajayi and Conor Townsend go into the defence. Jake Livermore also returns to skipper the side, whilst Grady Diangana also goes into the 11.

Rakeem Harper and Filip Krovinovic both drop to the bench.

Starting XI: Hamer (GK), Forsyth, Shinnie, Clarke, Evans, Martin, Holmes, Rooney (C), Bogle, Sibley, Bird.

Subs: Roos (GK), Jozefzoon, Lowe, Davies, Knight, Buchanan, Whittaker, Brown, Hector-Ingram.

Starting XI: Johnstone (GK), O'Shea, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Sawyers, Livermore (C), Pereira, Diangana, Grosicki, Austin.

Subs: Bond (GK), Furlong, Peltier, Harper, Brunt, Phillips, Krovinovic, Robinson, Robson-Kanu.

Do not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries of VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis and lineups for West Brom vs Derby.

Via Derby's club website, Derby first team coach Liam Rosenior recently spoke of Derby's fine form: 

"We are playing a superb West Bromwich Albion team on Wednesday who have just beaten Hull City 4-2 and look like they are going to be part of that top two, but we are confident in our own ability and the way that we are playing.

“A lot has been said about our form since the turn of the year, so we have to remember that we are a real contender in this league at the moment and we need to have faith in the way that we play.”

When speaking to the club website in the lead up to the game, West Brom manager Slaven Bilic was extremely complimentary of his team:

"The top teams are top not because they have the best XI, but because they have the best squads" he said.

"That is why we are where we are. The guys who have come off the bench have done brilliantly for us this season and won us many points. That’s all part of the plan.

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Hamer; Bogle, Evans, Clarke, Lowe; Rooney, Bird; Holmes, Sibley, Knight; Martin.

Johnstone; O'Shea, Bartley, Ajayi, Townsend; Harper, Sawyers; Diangana, Pereira, Grosicki; Austin.

Martyn Waghorn begins his three-game suspension after a straight red card in Derby's draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Tom Lawrence, meanwhile, serves the final game of his three-match suspension.

Krystian Bielik is a long term absentee, whilst Jack Marriott and Andre Wisdom remains sidelined.

Central defender Ahmed Hegazy will sit the game out after picking up a red card against Hull in the hosts' last game. 

Kieran Gibbs is also expected to miss the game after picking up a knock in the 4-2 win.

After a run of brilliant form which includes five wins from their last six games, Derby are well in the hunt for a Championship play-off spot. The Rams are one place and three points off sixth, and could move into sixth with a big win here.

West Brom are potentially just a few games away from promotion to the Premier League. After a small stutter, they have won their last two matches and will be aiming to keep up their good form as we reach the home straight of the Championship season.

This is a big game for both sides in the Championship promotion race. West Brom will be hoping to solidify their grip on the top two and automatic promotion places, whilst Derby will be aiming to stay in the hunt for the top six and play-off spots.

West Brom vs Derby will be played at The Hawthorns, in West Bromwich, England. The kick-off is schedules at 17:00 BST.

Welcome to VAVEL UK's LIVE coverage of the 2019/20 Championship match: West Brom vs Derby! My name is Lewis Browning and I'll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.com.