Reading without ‘stalwart’ Sam Hutchinson for West Brom clash
Richard Beale’s first game in interim charge of West Brom will be away at Reading on Saturday (15 October) who have an injury problem to worry about.
The Royals have surprised many with their start to the season under Paul Ince as they sit pretty in fifth, just two points behind league leaders Sheffield United.
The Baggies, meanwhile, languish in 22nd and sacked Steve Bruce as a result which has seen Beale take on the caretaker charge of the first team.
Things aren’t all rosy at the Select Car Leasing Stadium though as Ince will be without regular central defender Sam Hutchinson when Albion arrive on Saturday (15 October).
“He (Hutchinson) normally doesn’t come off for anything. He is tough and has been a stalwart for us,” Ince said after their game against QPR, as quoted by Berkshire Live. “And he is a leader. But we have four centre-backs out now so it is lucky we have eight days off till the next game.”
Results
The performance of the team is not a particularly important thing for Beale while he takes temporary charge of the team because all he needs to do is find a way to get results.
If that means he has to play extremely direct, route one football that is far from pretty on the eye then so be it but the new manager, whoever it may be, can’t afford to be taking charge of a team in the bottom three.
A small amount of momentum for them to carry into the World Cup break would be ideal where he can start to assess the squad at The Hawthorns properly.
Hutchinson’s absence will certainly encourage Karlan Grant and Brandon Thomas-Asante who are in need of goals personally to kickstart their season while the back four have to buck their ideas up to make things easier for them.
Anything other than defeat should be a step in the right direction against a side brimmed full of confidence.
In other West Brom news, the search for a new manager goes on and now this Championship mastermind is on the Albion radar.