Journalist claims opponents won’t relish West Brom visit in high praise for Baggies
Joe Chapman has praised the resilience of West Brom ahead of their difficult fixture schedule after their achievements so far this season with Carlos Corberan.
The Birmingham Live journalist claimed that, while the Baggies’ fixture schedule looks a daunting task to compete in, their opponents won’t be relishing their arrival either.
Albion’s good form of late has inspired some confidence in the fans and the squad, and their current run of four wins in their last six games will give them belief in the tough tests to come.
Writing in his column for Birmingham Live on 1 November, Chapman expressed: “Hull City, they’re a handy side. Southampton, too. Ipswich Town, yikes. Cardiff City – a banana skin if ever there was one.
“Leicester City, they speak for themselves. Sunderland away for a 12:30pm kick-off to round this next block of half a dozen games…a test of anyone’s mettle.
“That’s the list of West Bromwich Albion’s, unenviable, forthcoming fixtures. A little daunting, yes, but it’s important to sometimes flip the script when treating such outlooks; none of the above six opponents will particularly relish the prospect of encountering Albion anytime soon, for example.
“It mightn’t even be intentional, because there hasn’t really been any public tub-thumping, but there looks to be a siege mentality at this moment – Albion are without parachute payments, without serious investment and without key players because of injury, yet they find themselves deservedly in the play-off places, rather against the odds.”
A strong foundation to build upon
Having the sort of ‘us against them’ mentality that Corberan has built during his time at West Brom will prove a strong foundation for his side to get results even when they are not necessarily performing at their best level.
Strangely enough, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ownership and financial situation at the club may play a positive role in this season.
While it is of course not ideal when it comes to strengthening the squad or in terms of a secure future outlook for West Brom, it does play into the mentality that these players thrive in – one that trusts and relies upon them to be at their best for the best of the club.
Another part that plays into the siege mentality at The Hawthorns is the home form achieved since Corberan took over. The Baggies are noticeably stronger playing at home, and none of the big teams will fancy a trip to the Black Country this season.
In other West Brom news, a journalist has detailed the impact of West Brom’s win on the Coventry boss.