EFL Championship PREVIEW 23 Aug 2026: West Brom Host Burnley in Early Championship Test

West Bromwich Albion host Burnley at The Hawthorns on Sunday in the Championship's second round of fixtures. Albion sit eighth on 3 points after winning their opener away at Norwich City, while Burnley are tenth on 1 point after drawing their first match at home to West Ham United, one of two clubs relegated alongside them from the Premier League last season. Our model favours West Brom at 41%.

It is the first home league game of James Morrison's first full season in permanent charge at Albion, having been made head coach on 30 April 2026 after two spells as interim during a turbulent campaign that also saw Ryan Mason sacked in January and Eric Ramsay dismissed in February. Burnley arrive under their own new appointment, Nicky Hayen, who took over on 10 July 2026 on a three-year contract following Scott Parker's departure after relegation was confirmed in April.

Both clubs have been busy in the transfer market. Albion's summer signings include centre-forward Jimmy-Jay Morgan from Chelsea for £4,000,000, the club's biggest outlay, plus Barney Stewart from Falkirk, goalkeeper Matt Ingram from Oxford United and defenders Carter Pinnington, Conor Townsend and Nolan Galves. Burnley have gone the other way financially, selling Jaidon Anthony to Brentford, Loum Tchaouna to Coventry City, Maxime Estève to RB Leipzig and Luca Koleosho to Paris FC for a combined outlay well into eight figures, while bringing in Florentino Luís from Benfica and several lower-profile additions including Jack Robinson from Bradford City.

No all-time head-to-head record between the two clubs is published, so this is a fixture without a historical guide. What is known is that Burnley's relegation from the Premier League was their fifth, and this season brings renewed meetings with fellow-relegated West Ham and Wolves; Albion, meanwhile, survived their own Profit and Sustainability points deduction to stay up by four points last term. Albion have had eight days to prepare since their opening win, Burnley seven since their draw.