Alex Palmer makes ‘tough’ new West Brom admission
West Brom star Alex Palmer has admitted that the upcoming fixture schedule will be “tough” for the Baggies to navigate in the lead-up to the festive period.
Albion have had an excellent start to the season and currently sit seventh in the Championship, level on points with the sides in the top six, thanks in part to the excellent form of Palmer who has kept a league-best seven clean sheets in the opening 16 games.
After the November international break, the Baggies have nine matches before the turn of the new year, including clashes with the top three sides, Ipswich Town, Leeds United and Leicester City and Palmer is under no illusion it will be a “tough” period for West Brom.
As quoted by the Express & Star (22 November) he said: “It’s a tough schedule (ahead) but it’s what football is, the tradition of it. It’s a good period, you get through so many games and then after Christmas and into the New Year you get an idea of how the season is going to play out.
“We will just look forward to the games coming thick and fast. When you have a busy period coming, with the amount of games you have, it’s generally game, cool down, game, cool down.
“To have the opportunity was much appreciated by the lads the gaffer gave us that time. Mentally it helps massively just to be able to switch off and recharge the batteries.”
Season defining
Nothing is won or lost in football in November, but a lot can be decided in the Championship in the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day and the next few weeks could well prove to be crucial in the Baggies’ hunt for the playoff places.
Nine games mean that there are 27 points to play for in the next five and a half weeks and with West Brom facing some of the league’s best sides in that period, picking up as many wins as possible could really help the promotion hopes at The Hawthorns.
With a few players expected to return from injury in the next few weeks such as John Swift, Daryl Dike and Josh Maja, the Baggies could be set to get a huge boost to help Palmer and the rest of Carlos Corberan’s side through the tough period.
Starting off with three points against Ipswich on Saturday (25 November) would really help the Baggies prepare for the testing next month of football. Should they enter 2024 in good form, supporters may start pinning the league table up on their wall.
In other West Brom news, Irish media have slammed Jayson Molumby’s performance for Ireland against New Zealand