‘Fantastic’ – Jeff Stelling shares West Brom and Leeds promotion verdict after latest twist
Jeff Stelling has hailed the Championship promotion race as “fantastic” after West Brom drew 0-0 with Fulham on Tuesday night.
Albion avoided defeat at The Hawthorns to ensure that sealing a top-two finish is still in their hands despite the immense amount of pressure being applied by third-placed Brentford, who play Preston on Wednesday.
As it stands, Leeds United are still top of the Championship with West Brom missing the chance to temporarily leapfrog them on Tuesday.
Brentford are still in the hunt but Fulham’s chances of an automatic promotion spot took a huge blow as they dropped two points in the Black Country.
Speaking after West Brom’s goalless draw with Scott Parker’s side, Stelling summarised the race for the top-two.
“West Brom are on 82 points, they are two adrift of Leeds but more significantly they are four points ahead of Brentford but Brentford have a game in hand,” said Stelling on Sky Sports Main Event on Tuesday night.
“West Brom’s remaining two games are away to Huddersfield, who are in a relegation battle, and at home to QPR.
“If they win them both, they will fill an automatic promotion spot. If they slip up, and Brentford win their remaining three games, they will snatch that second place.
“It’s a fantastic finish, top and bottom, in the Championship.”
It must be fascinating for neutral supporters but for us West Brom fans, we’ve become nervous wrecks.
How many of you were left with your hearts in your mouth when Anthony Knockaert struck the crossbar on Tuesday night?
That was one of those moments that could have completely derailed West Brom’s promotion bid if it had hit the back of the net.
A draw against Fulham was perhaps a fair result, with the Baggies being the slightly better side based on the number of chances they created.
But there were too many chances that were – once again – squandered with Semi Ajayi, Grady Diangana among some of the players who really should have scored.
It was a good night defensively though, with Ahmed Hegazi proving solid in the defence against the Championship’s best striker in Aleksandar Mitrovic.
If we can stay that solid but be more clinical in front of goal against Huddersfield and QPR, then West Brom should be a Premier League club next season.
In other West Brom news, Mick McCarthy mocked Bilic in the 0-0 draw with Fulham.
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