Shilen Patel sends West Brom rallying call ahead of Preston showdown on final day
West Brom chairman Shilen Patel has issued a rallying call ahead of the final Championship game against Preston on Saturday 4 May.
Patel posted on X in the wake of the 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, admitting everyone wanted the final day to be simpler with a playoff place on the line.
The loss at Hillsborough leaves the Baggies sixth in the table going into the final day, where they need to match the result of Hull to confirm their play-off spot.
Patel wrote: “We all wanted Saturday to be simpler. Still, after 45 mad matches in this league, West Brom remain the keepers of our fate.
“The path to our ultimate goal remains in our hands, through our Fortress, our players and backed by our fans. We have all we need to fulfil our dreams.”
West Brom one point from securing Championship play-offs
West Brom appear to have absolutely hit the buffers as the Championship season approaches its climax – and couldn’t have done so at a worse time.
Albion had only lost back-to-back matches once this season back in early December, but after being completely outplayed at Hillsborough, have now lost three games in a row to Sunderland, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday.
Carlos Corberan’s side have also only scored once during this run, via captain Jed Wallace late on against Leicester, and need to find their shooting boots again after netting 21 in the previous 10 matches.
West Brom’s long-time hold on fifth place has now been superseded by Norwich, and with in-form Hull City just two points behind the Baggies going into the final day, Corberan’s side must snap their losing streak if they’re to have a chance of remaining in the top six.
A superior goal difference to Hull’s does give West Brom the chance to draw with Preston and still book their place, but given their woeful form coming into the final day, the Baggies really need to win if they’re to enter the play-offs in any sort of confidence.
In other West Brom news, Don Goodman has shared his concern over an injured Baggies player.
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