Chris Sutton singles out ‘superb’ West Brom difference to promotion rivals
Chris Sutton has claimed West Brom and their January business has been superb this season.
The BBC pundit admitted that the difference between the Baggies and teams such as Leeds is their strength in depth in the final third.
Sutton compared Marcelo Bielsa having Patrick Bamford to Slaven Bilic who has had Hal-Robson Kanu, Kenneth Zohore, and Charlie Austin available since the beginning of the season at the Hawthorns.
Sutton claimed that Leeds being a one-trick pony in the final third could eventually cost them, a problem West Brom don’t have.
“Can I tell you the difference between West Brom and Leeds? Leeds have Bamford, I know they’ve got Augustin now, but you look at West Brom and the options they have up-front. Robson-Kanu, Zohore, Charlie Austin, they have goals in their team,” he told BBC 5Live, via Leeds Live.
“Their recruitment, I think, has been superb, Ayaji from Rotherham, they’ve got Grosicki in, they seem to have the strength in depth. The argument against Leeds is that they’re a one-trick pony up-front, that’s their issue, Bamford has lost his form and that’s going to cost them.”
Sutton is spot on. Leeds have had to rely on Bamford way too much this season, with Eddie Nketiah returning to Arsenal and then not securing Augustin for a month after that.
West Brom have been much more effective. Take Austin for example, the forward has come off the bench and saved the Baggies numerous times. Six of the 30-year-old’s eight goals have come with him not starting in the Championship, and that has earned them many points.
Now Leeds have Augustin it could change, but it could be too little too late in West Yorkshire – something Bilic will be hopeful of.
In other West Brom news, this Baggies star makes admission over promotion race in Championship