Tom Fellows request shared by Mowbray after West Brom announcement
West Brom crucially returned to winning ways at the weekend after coming out on top against Watford 2-1 at The Hawthorns.
Dropped points against the Hornets would likely have put an end to Tony Mowbray‘s side’s play-off bid once and for all, but Karlan Grant and Mikey Johnston’s goals drove Albion on to an overdue three points.
Fans at The Hawthorns will now be hoping the Baggies are back on track in good time, as an undoubted six-pointer takes place on Good Friday (18 April) with a short trip to sixth-placed Coventry City.
Win at the CBS Arena, and West Brom – level on 60 points with Middlesbrough and Millwall – leapfrog Coventry and could be back in the ascendancy for a shout at the Premier League.
Mowbray reveals demand of Fellows after Watford performance
Fellows returned to the level of form West Brom supporters saw from him early in the season, when he laid on assists for each of Albion’s goals against Watford.
It brings the academy graduate’s total to 13 assists this season, a league-high which has kept Premier League clubs on red alert.
West Brom announced on Monday (14 April) that Fellows is Albion’s Young Player of the Year winner for the second successive season.
Mowbray has, however, piled a demand on the young winger on how to improve, alongside teammate Johnston.
The Baggies boss has insisted Fellows must always look to beat his full-back, rather than “running down blind alleys”, to become a performing Premier League player.
“Sometimes Fellows and Johnston haven’t done it for long spells. They keep running down blind alleys, keep giving the ball away, don’t get past their man,” Mowbray told the Express & Star (15 April).
“It was about giving them some confidence and belief. I said to them this week ‘I don’t care if you lose the ball but I do care if you never, ever attack the full-back’.
“Tom keeps driving inside the full-back on his left foot – where are you going? The goal is that way (points), this is where we’re trying to go. He can get to the Premier League – hopefully with this club of course – if he can eliminate full-backs and put the ball in the box. He’s a special talent.”
West Brom can set themselves up with win v Coventry
The Easter weekend in the EFL always promises chaos at the business end of the season, and can often lay out a clear picture of what each club can aim for in their final weeks.
West Brom know if they win at Coventry on Good Friday that they are right back into the mix for the play-offs ahead of a return to The Hawthorns against Derby County on Easter Monday (21 April).
A return of at least four points from the weekend would be huge for Albion, who have needlessly dropped too many points of late.
| Championship assists – 2024-25 | Total |
| Tom Fellows – West Brom | 13 |
| Jack Rudoni – Coventry | 12 |
| Josh Murphy – Portsmouth | 11 |
| Finn Azaz – Middlesbrough | 11 |
Fellows’ inconsistency has been addressed by Mowbray with the Baggies at times looking unsure in attack, despite the manager’s need for free-flowing football and the firepower he possesses in the squad.
However, the England Under-21s star was right back to his best against Watford and must continue that form into the final four games of the season – and hopefully for Albion, three more.