West Brom playoff chances shift in supercomputer prediction after Coventry loss
West Brom are six points adrift of the playoff places after the 2-0 loss to Coventry.
The Baggies had hopes of making the end-of-season Championship showdown after the Sky Blues laboured to a draw against Hull on Monday (14 April).
However, they now sit seventh after the disappointing defeat to Frank Lampard’s side on Friday (18 April), with their chances hanging by a thread.
West Brom playoff hopes dwindling after dismal run
Albion supporters may have hoped that Tony Mowbray had turned a corner after the 2-1 win over Watford last week ended a run of five games without a win.
Their encouragement was heightened after their rivals dropped points and opened the door but their chances look bleak after the latest result.
According to the Opta supercomputer, the Baggies had a 27.10 per cent chance of making the playoffs after the result on Monday.
However, in the latest prediction that been reduced to just 7.10 per cent with the result against their fellow Midlands side significantly diminishing the likelihood.
With nine points left to play for and a six-point gap between them and where they want to be, it looks like they are destined for failure.
Mowbray’s job surely hanging in the balance
The Hawthorns outfit now face a really tough task to secure a place in the playoffs, although they will take hope from the fact that they play three relegation-threatened sides before the season ends.
Mowbray has won just five of the 17 matches that he has taken charge of since he returned to the Black Country club, and surely his future will come into question if his side fail in their ambitions to have a chance to return to the Premier League.
| Championship | Played | GD | Points |
| 6. Coventry | 43 | +7 | 66 |
| 7. Middlesbrough | 43 | +10 | 61 |
| 8. West Brom | 43 | +10 | 60 |
Losing starting goalkeeper Alex Palmer on deadline day was not ideal, but Josh Griffiths has proved to be a reliable option and it took Mowbray a while to trust him as he persisted with the error-prone Joe Wildsmith.
He has been dealt a poor hand with several injuries ruining his selection plans, but results have still not been good enough and he could pay the ultimate price if Shilen Patel decides to move in a different direction once the campaign concludes.