West Brom fans baffled at Adam Armstrong announcement v Watford
West Brom are hosting Watford in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Tony Mowbray’s men have suffered three consecutive defeats in the second tier and are vying to get their top-six push back on track, with a win needed.
Tuesday’s loss to playoff rivals Bristol City, coupled with Coventry’s win over Portsmouth on Wednesday, left the Baggies five points adrift of the top six with just five games left to play.
West Brom face the Hornets without the services of midfielder Jayson Molumby, who was sent off last time out and consequently suspended.
West Brom fans baffled as Mowbray drops Adam Armstrong
Mowbray decided to leave striker Adam Armstrong on the bench for the Baggies’ clash with Watford, leaving the Hawthorns faithful confused.
One West Brom fan wrote on X: “Finally start a target man then drop Armstrong, don’t understand but still behind the team, coyb.”
Another user said: “Would have preferred to see Armstrong next to (Will) Lankshear rather than KG (Karlan Grant).”
The Albion. 🫡
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) April 12, 2025
Tammer Bany and Ousmane Diakité both miss out through injury. 🤕@BarberbossUK | #WBA pic.twitter.com/ljYs0l1cci
Finally start a target man then drop Armstrong don’t understand but still behind the team coyb
— Suraj Chohan 𓅪 (@Suujii_C) April 12, 2025
decent, would’ve preferred to see Armstrong next to Lankshear rather than KG but better than usual
— aiden (@aidennwba) April 12, 2025
ARMSTRONG DROPPEDDDDSDD
— #MowbrayOUT 𓅪 (@wbaa_j) April 12, 2025
Both Swift and Grady benched. Simply guessing each week but at last he’s guessed right. Bany a loss as he’s future. Bizarre dropping AA. Try him with WL surely. Hey ho. 5-1 baggies 😀
— RichardH 𓅪 (@Geordiebaggie) April 12, 2025
So now we have a “big” lad up front where Armstrong would be suited to play along side him, he drops him and persists with Grant 🤯
— Tommo (@wba_tommo) April 12, 2025
😂 still not 2 up front?
— Dave price 𓅪 (@Davepricescaff) April 12, 2025
no armstrong pic.twitter.com/qA627GKV2n
— bailey 𓅪 (@baileywba_) April 12, 2025
I was expecting Armstrong to still start for us next season whilst also at Southampton… Hope Lankshear smashes it!
— Adam Stevens (@Adam_Splinter_) April 12, 2025
West Brom must beat Watford
West Brom will be desperate to finish in the playoffs for the second consecutive season and hand themselves an opportunity to fight for a spot in next season’s Premier League.
But with so few games remaining in the current Championship campaign, Mowbray’s side are on poor form at the wrong time and simply have to turn it around against Watford.
The West Midlands side have not emerged victorious in the second tier since their 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers on 8 March, which came thanks to Armstrong’s penalty.
If West Brom suffer yet another defeat against Watford, it will come as a hammer blow to their playoff credentials, especially if current rivals Bristol City and Coventry achieve victories.
Even if the Baggies win and all their playoff rivals suffer defeats this weekend, it will not be enough for Mowbray’s men to return to the top six just yet.
Furthermore, it is arguably difficult to see both Bristol City and Coventry losing against lowly opponents, while Middlesbrough could have enough to fend off Millwall on Saturday.
Given Armstrong knows exactly what it takes to earn promotion, and through the playoffs, he will still have a massive role to play against Watford.