Exclusive: Bilic tipped to make two West Brom changes v Brentford, Krov to start - pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has tipped Slaven Bilic to make two changes to his West Brom starting line-up for the clash against Brentford on Friday night.
Albion travel to Griffin Park off the back of a disappointing 0-0 draw against Birmingham on Saturday in their first game in over three months.
Bilic made the surprising decision to drop Filip Krovinovic from his starting line-up at the weekend but Phillips believes that the Croatian midfielder, as well as Grady Diangana, could both start at Griffin Park on Friday.
"Krovinovic could start that match because it's a tight little pitch and you need good ballplayers in there to try and unlock the door. He certainly comes into that mould," the pundit told West Brom News.
"They've had a good break and it's virtually been a week so you could possibly go with the same team.
"But I certainly see him making a couple of changes with Matt Phillips coming out and Diangana going in and Krovinovic going in as well."
It would not be a bad shout if Bilic did reinstate Krovinovic into his starting line-up as the 24-year-old was one of West Brom's best players before the season was halted.
Phillips did not have a great game last week so if anyone is going to be dropped, it's him but it will be interesting to see who Bilic would drop to accommodate both Krovinovic and Diangana.
Callum Robinson would be the obvious player to make way for Diangana because they play in the same position.
We will have to wait and see but there's no way that Bilic can stick with the same team after the dismal display versus Blues.
In other West Brom news, fans have said it's "Berahino all over again" after this player update was announced.