Steve Cook says West Brom will struggle to break into the Championship top two
West Brom will struggle to break into the Championship automatic promotion places this season, says Bournemouth defender Steve Cook.
Albion are currently third in the second tier table, three points behind the Cherries in second. League leaders Fulham are two points further ahead.
The season is not yet at the halfway stage, but Cook suggested that his team and the Cottagers were big favourites to go up.
Speaking on Bournemouth’s official podcast, the 30-year-old said: “It [Bournemouth’s recent 1-1 draw with Fulham] reminded me of a Premier League game.
“I thought Fulham were very good and you can see why they are up there with us. Obviously, we would have loved to have held on but I did think it was a good game, great game for the Championship.
“Bournemouth and Fulham are setting the standards so far and I think it will take a very good team to break that. In saying that, we need to get back to winning ways soon.”
Over-confident
This is certainly a bold statement from Cook and one that may come back to bite him later in the season.
It is a particularly over-confident stance considering – as the defender admits – Bournemouth are on their worst run of form of the season having won just one of their last seven matches.
By the end of this weekend, if West Brom beat Barnsley and the Cherries lose against Middlesbrough, then the two sides will be level on points at the halfway stage of the campaign.
After a tricky run of their own, Albion have won back-to-back matches and are building momentum as they close in on the top two.
Cook’s remarks will only serve as motivation to Valerien Ismael and the Baggies squad, who will be keen to prove the defender wrong.
Make no mistake – if West Brom win promotion at Bournemouth’s expense, these comments are being brought back up again.
In other West Brom news, view our predicted lineup for Albion’s trip to Barnsley on Friday night.
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