Sky Sports pundit David Prutton predicts West Brom v Middlesbrough result amid stuttering form
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has questioned whether the Carlos Corberan magic at West Brom has dried up and predicted that they will fall to defeat against Middlesbrough on Saturday (25 February).
After flying up the Championship table upon the arrival of Corberan as manager in October, a recent slump in form – one point gained from the last nine available – sees the Baggies sit tenth and four points off the playoff spots.
And Prutton believes Michael Carrick’s side will pile yet more misery on Albion when making his weekly Championship predictions for Sky Sports, predicting a 2-1 loss for the home side at The Hawthorns.
“Has the Carlos Corberan magic dried up a little?” he said. “Their results have certainly dipped in the last few games, after such an impeccable start to his life at The Hawthorns.
“And Middlesbrough are not the team you want to run into right now if you want to regain some momentum.
“They look unstoppable, and Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer are an incredible duo in attack. I think they will take another big win to pile more pressure on Sheffield United in second.”
Tough assignment
If Corberan could choose any team not to play in the Championship right now, it would definitely not be Middlesbrough.
Carrick’s side has been in scintillating form in the last few months, and their attack probably poses the likes of Dara O’Shea and Erik Pieters with their toughest assignment of the season.
With Archer and Akpom lighting up the Championship in recent weeks, the centre-back partnership will need to be at its very best to limit the number of chances cracked at Josh Griffiths’ goal.
Ever since Corberan turned down the opportunity to move to Leeds as manager earlier this month, his side has looked a little uninspired in the league. Although it was going to be impossible to carry on their early manager bounce, it still remains a worry at such a crucial juncture of the season.
Albion can’t afford to carry on their downward spiral in the league if they harbour any promotion ambitions, they must stop the rot this weekend. Corberan’s side possesses more than enough quality to get a result against Boro, but they will need to be inch-perfect to do so.
In other West Brom news, Albion have completed an under-the-radar signing after a player was spotted at The Hawthorns with his new club’s kit.