Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Wed 12 March 2025 18:44, UK

West Brom have stepped up a gear following a fifth game unbeaten in the Championship in midweek.

The 1-1 draw at Burnley was a third straight result of this scoreline on the road and despite taking the lead through John Swift’s terrific free-kick, the Baggies would have taken a point before the game at Turf Moor (11 March).

It is the sort of form required to secure a place inside the top six this season, as Tony Mowbray makes the best of a side without several of his options, particularly at the back.

West Brom ace picked out by Brown as ‘unbelievable’

After a sluggish start to his tenure, Mowbray is now building the sort of form which will maintain a spot in the play-offs for West Brom come May.

A lot of this is down to tilting home draws into wins, even if not glamorous – like Saturday’s last Hawthorns outing against Queens Park Rangers (8 March).

The draw at Burnley is still a positive result given how impressive Scott Parker’s side’s defence have been, despite the error leading to Zian Flemming’s equaliser and substitute Mikey Johnston firing a deflected strike against the crossbar late on.

On paper it goes down as a draw against a 10-man Burnley outfit – but CJ Egan-Riley’s stupid red card came on the cusp of the final whistle after kicking out at Will Lankshear in frustration.

West Brom legend Tony Brown, commenting post-match on BBC WM (11 March), picked out the versatile Callum Styles as having made an “unbelievable” impact recently in Mowbray’s side, usually operating at left-back.

“They’re committed to each other and there’s a real spirit among them. They chase things down, they work for each other and there have been some terrific individual performances,” Brown said.

“Styles has been unbelievable, the energy of the lad [against Burnley], but he hasn’t been on his own. A lot of the time, it was a back-to-the-wall job against a Burnley side up near the top, who probably thought they’d turn Albion over.

“I think the last three games, Albion have been superb as a unit. You know when you can feel something with a team? I get that feeling at the moment.”

Styles proving the doubters wrong

Styles’ combative and gritty display against Burnley – from whom he was released aged 16 – was just what the doctor ordered against one of the few Championship sides above West Brom as the table stands.

The automatic promotion contenders were thwarted with regularity by the left-back, who has made the position his own and made Baggies fans miss summer departure Conor Townsend considerably less.

Carlos Corberan before Mowbray had identified left-back as Styles’ best position in a West Brom shirt, and he is certainly now delivering for his new boss.

Signed from League One outfit Barnsley for his all-action utility-player reputation and excellent experience for his age, 24-year-old Styles came with some sceptics after Sunderland had turned down the chance to make his loan on Wearside permanent last year.

But he has been assured, contributory going forward as well as defensively, and carries plenty of traits synonymous with a competitive Championship side.

West Brom return to The Hawthorns this Saturday to take on Hull City (15 March) before the international break, which sees Hungary ace Styles likely to feature in one or both of his side’s Nations League contests with Turkiye.