Credit: Imago

Josh Edwards

Sun 20 April 2025 13:14, UK

Tony Mowbray is doing himself no favours at West Brom, seemingly hitting back at a comment previously made by ex-Baggies boss Carlos Corberan.

West Brom’s season is fading away, and much of that is down to what feels like a failed appointment with Mowbray.

Fans have already called for him to be sacked at West Brom, and after another disappointing defeat, this time against Coventry, those frustrations are only going to grow further.

With Albion now six points outside of the playoffs ahead of the final three games, a failure to win on Monday could see their promotion push ended, and could, in turn, see the end of Mowbray’s tenure at The Hawthorns.

Corberan ‘culture’ ripped into by Mowbray

As the saying goes, you never know what you have until you’ve lost it, and that feels like the case with Corberan.

Prior to his exit to Valencia, there was a minority of fans who wanted him gone. Now they’ve got their wish and regression has followed.

However, during his time with Albion, he instilled a style of play that often saw the Baggies absorb pressure before hitting teams on the break, which brought plenty of success, though Mowbray has hit back at the way the Spaniard had set the team up.

In quotes reported by Birmingham World, he said: “I’m trying to turn a team around that’s been pretty passive and sat in its two banks of four and waited, letting the opposition have the ball

“When they [Albion under Corberan] would get it, they’d try and break fast. And that’s fine, that’s ok. But still, did they accrue enough points to have scored a number of goals we should’ve done?

“I don’t know if maybe this frustration that I feel today has been here a lot this season. It becomes a lot more heightened because the games are running out, but is it the same as after 10 games, after 12 games, after 20 games? I’m not sure because I wasn’t here, but sometimes it’s very difficult to turn a team that looks like this into a team you want to make it look like.”

Corberan departure severely affected West Brom

Corberan more than likely would have had West Brom safely in the top six this season, but football doesn’t work in hindsight.

At the time, Mowbray seemed like a sound appointment, but as time has progressed, he has looked out of his depth, and it feels like it’s only a matter of time until he departs, despite only coming through the door three months ago.

The upcoming clash with Derby County will be a crucial one for all parties, with John Eustace’s side fighting for survival, and Mowbray’s side in desperate need of a win if they are to maintain any hopes of a playoff spot come the end of the season.