West Brom confirmed starting XI v Norwich City – Kyle Bartley dropped, Brandon Thomas-Asante starts
Steve Bruce’s West Brom starting XI has been confirmed for the trip to Carrow Road to face high-flying Norwich City in the Championship.
After the damaging 3-2 defeat in the derby against Birmingham City on Wednesday night (14 September) the pressure is mounting on the Baggies boss.
One win all season and currently 20th in the table is not where Albion expected to be at this stage, and with the Canaries on a six-game winning streak it is a daunting prospect next up on Saturday afternoon (17 September).
David Button is in goal as normal, but ahead of him Kyle Bartley is dropped after his nightmare evening in the derby, as is Taylor Gardner-Hickman, with Darnell Furlong and Erik Pieters, for his first start, coming in.
Jake Livermore is back in midfield next to Jayson Molumby as Okay Yokuslu is dropped to the bench.
Grady Diangana, Jed Wallace and John Swift remain in the attacking areas but Brandon Thomas-Asante has usurped Karlan Grant up front for his first appearance from kick-off.
Test
Had the season been going to plan this trip would have been one that could have tested the credentials of two sides chasing promotion.
But currently only one of the teams involved look anything like threatening to do that, so it would be a turn up if the Baggies come away with the win.
An improvement in performance from midweek is absolutely essential, especially in defence, and points would be extremely helpful as well.
A heavy defeat with the kind of showing at the back that Bartley and company produced in the derby and serious questions are going to be asked about the manager’s future.
He has acknowledged the threat to his job already but still feels he can do the job he has been appointed for if given time.
He will need to improve things quickly to keep the fans onside if he wants that to happen, as there have been positive signs amid a long unbeaten run that yielded far too many draws, but that was hugely undercut by the limp Birmingham defeat.
In other West Brom news, Ron Gourlay may already have his plan for the manager’s future set out.