West Brom: ‘Surprised’ Carlos Corberan responds to Tony Mowbray sack news
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan has shared his shock at Sunderland’s decision to part company with Tony Mowbray ahead of the Baggies’ trip to the Stadium of Light on 9 December.
Corberan insisted Mowbray was doing “an incredible job” at Sunderland, having taken them from a mid-table finish to the playoffs where they lost out to eventual winners Luton last season.
Despite the news of Mowbray’s dismissal, the Albion boss maintained that they will still face the same Sunderland team as they would have had he been in charge after the short time without him.
Speaking to the official West Brom website [7 December], Corberan shared: “I was very surprised to hear the news about Tony Mowbray leaving Sunderland earlier this week.
“For me, he did an incredible job there. He started at Sunderland when they were in the middle of the table in their first year back in the Championship. He put them in the playoffs.
“They are one team who play really, really good football so for me he is one coach who I have followed. I respect him a lot, not just because of his past with West Bromwich Albion, but because of the football his teams play.
“They have changed Tony Mowbray, but I don’t think that changes the Sunderland team we will come up against.”
Preparations remain the same
Despite the boss’ surprise at the decision to sack Mowbray, it will not have changed the way West Brom are preparing for their trip to the North East, and they will not be expecting Sunderland to be any weaker as a result of the change in manager.
With no replacement appointed as yet, Sunderland will be managed by an interim boss, meaning things will likely remain the same as they did under Mowbray with no change in the style of play to cause any issues for Albion.
Regardless of the dismissal, Sunderland will present a difficult game for West Brom. Their attacking flair has been made obvious with the likes of Jack Clarke flying – the winger is the clear danger man ahead of the game, with ten goals already this season.
The Black Cats sit just three points outside of the playoff places, and just five away from Albion, so by no means will it be a walkover for West Brom on 9 December.
In other West Brom news, Corberan could axe a key forward amid five changes at the weekend.