West Brom Faces Birmingham After Derby Defeat

West Bromwich Albion welcomes Birmingham City to The Hawthorns for a Championship derby on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with manager James Morrison seeking a stronger performance after a disappointing previous derby. The lunchtime kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. UK time, according to West Brom's official matchday information.

The teams enter the fixture with West Brom sixth in the Championship standings on 14 points and Birmingham 10th on 11 points, according to BBC Sport's match statistics. The standings place West Brom in the promotion playoff positions, while Birmingham sits five points below the top six.

West Brom's matchday lineup lists a 4-4-2 formation under Morrison. O'Leary starts in goal, with Pereira, Phillips, Mepham and Styles forming the defense. Diakité, Nzingoula, Myhre and Collyer occupy midfield, while Heggebø and Morgan lead the attack, according to the published team information.

Morrison has called for a positive response from his players following the previous derby disappointment. A report published in the October 10, 2026, edition of the Birmingham Mail and made available through Magzter described the manager as demanding an improved performance against Birmingham.

The match also brings supporters to The Hawthorns for an expanded matchday program. West Brom's official supporter information says the Fan Zone, situated near the West Stand and Birmingham Road End, opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 12:15 p.m. Fans from both clubs with valid match tickets can attend free of charge.

Activities include live music from Rylees Vocals, inflatable challenges organized by The Albion Foundation, a gaming van and an interactive shooting gallery. Supporters can also watch match highlights and sports news on a large screen before entering the stadium.

West Brom has introduced new food options for the 2026-27 season, including loaded chili nachos for the home fixtures against Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers. The club also plans to offer chicken tikka and fries across all four stands throughout the season, with both options priced at £8.50, according to its matchday announcement.

Additional facilities include two new refreshment kiosks in the Birmingham Road Stand, free fruit for young supporters across all stands and phone-charging stations. The club also says sensory packs and ear defenders will be available for purchase through its shop.

After the final whistle, the post-match bar will remain open for 90 minutes, with free entry for season ticket holders. Sky Sports will be shown on television screens, while DJ Andy Gulch is scheduled to perform a live set.

The Championship's promotion structure places the top two teams in automatic promotion positions, while clubs finishing third through eighth are listed in the playoff places under the standings information provided for the fixture. The bottom three teams, in positions 22 through 24, face relegation.