Jim White delivers verdict after Trevor Sinclair rates West Brom promotion chances
Trevor Sinclair believes West Brom are not too far behind Bournemouth and Fulham in the race for automatic promotion in the Championship.
The Cherries and Cottagers are currently leading the way in the second-tier with the south-coast side two points ahead at the top, while West Brom are six points adrift of Fulham after three defeats in their last seven games.
Albion have taken just one point from their two encounters with the top-two, drawing 2-2 at Bournemouth on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign before a 3-0 hammering at Craven Cottage last month.
However, ex-England international Sinclair has stressed there is a long way to do in the season.
“It’s still early days in that league,” he said on talkSPORT [10/11/21]. “I would say Bournemouth [and] Fulham [are] miles in front of everyone else. West Brom are not far away.”
Jim White replied: “Oh it’s a dogfight.”
Top two to pull away?
Sinclair slightly contradicted himself on talkSPORT as he initially suggested that Bournemouth and Fulham were on another level to the rest of the division, before quickly backtracking to say that West Brom are still amongst it.
In reality, his first suggestion may prove to be right.
Albion have proven to be something of an enigma this season – sometimes they absolutely fly out the traps and take the game to the opposition, and other times they are pedestrian in possession and launch aimless balls forwards.
It has been much of the latter in recent weeks as the early-season momentum has dissipated.
There is still time for Albion to pull it together, but any more injuries will hit them harder than their competitors given the weak squad that has been assembled.
In other West Brom news, a reliable journalist has suggested Albion may make a major move in January amid huge player developments.
Be sure to follow West Brom News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Baggies and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Phillips.