Sky Sports journalist shares West Brom promotion verdict as Baggies ‘haul’ themselves into playoff places
West Brom still “harbour hopes” of finishing in this season’s Championship playoff places, according to Sky Sports journalist Simeon Gholam.
The Baggies have climbed their way up to sixth place in the table following back-to-back wins against Stoke and Blackpool.
There are, however, clubs who could leapfrog Carlos Corberan’s side in their Championship matches on Wednesday (19 April).
“Burnley have sealed automatic promotion to the Premier League and are on the verge of the Championship title,” Gholam wrote for Sky Sports. “Sheffield United look very well-placed to join them, with an eight-point gap and a game in hand on Luton in third.
“The Hatters and Middlesbrough look nailed on for at least a play-off place, while all the sides in the top half still harbour hopes of finishing in the top six.”
He added: “Back-to-back wins have seen West Brom haul their way into sixth, although Blackburn, Coventry, Preston and Norwich all play on Wednesday night and hope to take their spot.”
Fierce battle incoming
Just like there is a very tense battle ongoing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, there is one going on in the top half of the Championship table.
Several clubs will fancy their chances of a strong finish to the season, and West Brom should be one such club after picking up six points from their last two matches.
But it is extremely tight among the top six, with no room for error at all as the season draws to a nervous close.
One major factor for any Albion success could involve the loss of striker Daryl Dike, who has unfortunately been ruled out for a very long period following an Achilles injury suffered against Stoke on Saturday (15 April).
Karlan Grant has recently returned to the side and could be a great replacement on the goals front, but all players will need to be working at their very hardest in the final few matches in order to achieve a playoff spot.
In other West Brom news, Chris Lepkowski has expressed fears over lasting effects to Dike after another major injury for the striker.