Daniel Feliciano

Wed 29 March 2023 15:10, UK

Carlos Corberan could be set to make minimal changes to his West Brom starting lineup for the big Championship clash with Millwall this weekend (1 April).

The Baggies head into the final nine games of the season currently five points off the playoff spots, with Saturday’s opponents currently occupying the final playoff spot.

And now the manager must decide what to do with his team to claim all three points to close that gap, because he knows that if the team suffer defeat then their playoff hopes are all but over.

Alex Palmer has established himself as the number one at the club but has been suffering with an injury which allowed Josh Griffiths to take a chance, replacing David Button in the side.

Palmer is sure to be closing in on a return after it was revealed he travelled with the squad for the 1-1 draw with Cardiff before the international break, but it seems more likely that Griffiths will get the nod for this first game back.

Corberan has switched through systems during his time at the club, and last time out went with a back three system to bring Nigerian international Semi Ajayi back into the side.

Dara O’Shea and Erik Pieters started alongside him in the middle, with Premier League loanee Marc Albrighton starting at right wing-back and Connor Townsend starting at left wing-back.

It seems likely that Corberan will opt for the same defence, looking to protect his rookie goalkeeper and provide more of a platform for the midfield to be offensive.

In the centre of midfield Okay Yokuslu and Jayson Molumby have formed a solid partnership in the absence of Jake Livermore and ahead of Nathaniel Chalobah. They have a great balance of defence and attack and are definitely the manager’s preferred options in the midfield, so they should start again.

Jed Wallace got the nod as a striker in the last clash, but upon returning to his former side this weekend he is likely to go to a more familiar role behind the strikers.

That position is usually occupied by John Swift, who has been in decent form. However the summer signing, who earns a £22.5k per-week (via Capology) has found himself in and out of the team and could find himself back on the bench here.

That would be to allow the team to get two strikers on the pitch with both Daryl Dike and Brandon Thomas-Asante performing well when given the chance this season.

Having them both on the pitch means more chance of goals, and with Dike fresh off a start for his national team they will be flowing with confidence to get the better of Millwall at The Hawthorns.

In other West Brom news, attacking duo named in best English XI from Championship by stats company.