Ross Jones

Tue 9 June 2020 9:30, UK

These next few weeks will either bring agony or ecstasy for West Brom.

After such a long wait, the Baggies will finally get to play for their place in the Premier League next season later this month, and with a six point gap between themselves and the play-offs, the only thing that can stop them now is a sudden capitulation.

But while they may hold a commanding advantage in the race for an automatic promotion place – so much so that data guru Ben Mayhew has given them a 90% chance of finishing second or above – things would be made a lot less nervy if they could rely on third-placed Fulham to drop some points.

And after the Championship confirmed its fixture schedule for the rest of the season on Monday, it doesn’t look entirely out of the question that the London club could slip up early doors.

Scott Parker’s men play fellow promotion hopefuls Brentford and Leeds United first, and as The Athletic journalist Phil Hay puts it, favourable results could all but wrap up the Baggies’ top flight return by June 27th, when the Whites travel to Elland Road.

Writing in a Q&A for the outlet, he said: “West Brom are in a great position with Fulham playing Brentford and Leeds first.

“Bilic will know that a flying start could put his side on the brink.”

And it’s hard to disagree with him.

While it’s important not to get our hopes up prematurely, it’s worth pointing out that if Fulham were to lose either of those matches against Leeds and Brentford – and if we beat Birmingham City and the Bees in our first two matches – we would nine points clear with seven games to go.

If Fulham lose both and we win both, that gap would be 12 points.

Even being as cautious and as realistic as possible, it’s hard to see how our rivals could come back from that.

In other West Brom news, Kamil Grosicki shares footage of first goal for WBA in 2-2 v Aston Villa

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