Jeff Stelling drops West Brom playoff verdict amid Rotherham blow live on Sky Sports News
Jeff Stelling gave West Brom a miserable playoff verdict live on Sky Sports as the Baggies suffered a damaging defeat at Rotherham.
A miserable 3-1 loss at the New York Stadium on Good Friday (7 April) left the Albion five points from the playoff places before the rest of the league’s games kicked off, putting promotion hopes under real strain.
There may be seven Championship matches still to play but in light of the faltering recent form it is now starting to look like Carlos Corberan’s incredible rescue job is going to fall short, and Stelling suggested the push is as good as over.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Special (2.37pm) Stelling said: “You saw that table by the way a couple of minutes ago, Rotherham are still leading West Brom 2-1. West Brom haven’t won in six away games in all competitions, they’ve lost five of those six.
“Two Jordan Hugill goals after John Swift had put Carlos Corberan’s side in front. Five points off the playoff places, number of sides above them as well.
“You have to feel that if they lose this their playoff hopes are not done, but pretty much as good as done.”
Too far
West Brom fans have been through all the emotions in what has been a weird season, and while the action on the pitch saw a significant improvement after the Spaniard arrived this is still ultimately a squad that spent a year prior struggling in the second tier.
That it was Hugill who had a major hand in taking the points on Saturday summed up the feeling of frustration for the fans.
The 30-year-old managed to find the net twice for the Millers, doubling his scoring output across 20 Baggies appearances during a fruitless loan spell last season.
Major concerns will now start to mount over what missing out on a return to the Premier League means for this side over the summer and going forward.
The release of the club’s accounts revealed “material uncertainty” over the future operations without significant player sales [The Athletic, 30 March].
Despite an improvement in a number of players under Corberan this was already a squad that looked short of quality overall, so without cash to strengthen but instead an existential requirement to weaken it looks like it is going to be a disconcerting time for all concerned.
In other West Brom news, a major rival has admitted he wants to visit the Hawthorns for the fan experience.