Match preview: West Bromwich Albion vs Harrogate Town

Harrogate Town continue to break new ground this evening when they travel to Premier League West Bromwich Albion in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

The game at the Hawthorns will be the first time Harrogate have played a club from the top tier of English football in a competitive fixture.

It will also be the first time they’ve played live in front of the Sky Sports cameras. The match kicks off at 6pm.

Harrogate sealed their place in the second round when they beat Tranmere Rovers on penalties this month and they’ve continued to look impressive in the early stages of the new season.

The team made a dream start to life as an English Football League club on Saturday when they thrashed Southend United 4-0 away from home, with two goals from Jack Muldoon and a goal apiece from Lloyd Kerry and Aaron Martin.

However, West Brom will be a different proposition entirely as their squad is littered with internationals. The Baggies finished second to Leeds in last season’s Championship, earning promotion to the Premier League.

West Brom manager Slaven Bilic is expected to make changes from the side that lost 0-3 to Leicester City at the weekend. Experienced striker Charlie Austin is pushing for a start and winger Matt Phillips could also return to the side after an injury.

Harrogate manager Simon Weaver will be tempted to name the same team that beat Southend at the weekend, which saw four new signings on the substitutes bench.

Where to watch the match on TV

Pubs confirmed to be showing the game live in Harrogate tonight include The Empress, The Harrogate Arms, and The Alexandra. Fans are encouraged to book a table ahead of the game.

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Harrogate return to football league action on Saturday with a home tie against Walsall, which will be played at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium due to Town laying grass at the newly renamed EnviroVent stadium.

The EFL invited clubs to apply to pilot the return of fans to this weekend’s fixtures, with 1,000 supporters permitted at matches.

But Harrogate told the Stray Ferret they didn’t apply because Doncaster’s stadium operations manager is currently absent from work on sick leave.