Credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Mon 21 April 2025 14:07, UK

Tony Mowbray has made a baffling decision around Mason Holgate as his West Brom starting 11 has been named to face Derby County on Monday.

The Rams have travelled to The Hawthorns on 21 April, ready for a must-win clash for the relegation-threatened side.

Although John Eustace will be desperate for three points, the Baggies will also be hopeful of finding some sort of form with just one win in their last seven Championship outings.

With that being said, the decision from Mowbray to start Holgate is all the more confusing as the home side go in search of a must-needed victory in the Black Country.

West Brom fans baffled as Holgate starts v Derby

With Callum Styles absent at The Hawthorns, there was always going to be a change at the back from Mowbray for the clash against the Rams.

Many expected Gianluca Frabotta to be handed a chance to prove himself after failing to make a single start all season long.

This isn’t the case as Mowbray has opted to go with Holgate, much to the discontent of the Baggies fans, with one saying: “We’re finished.”

Another questioned: “Why not give Frabotta a chance? He can’t be as bad as Holgate?”

West Brom can’t afford Derby County defeat

When Carlos Corberan departed the Midlands for Valencia, Albion looked a dead cert to secure a playoff spot at the end of the season.

This isn’t how things have transpired under Mowbray, as a spot in the top six appears to be a distant memory.

The Baggies now sit six points off Frank Lampard’s Coventry City and look doomed to another season of second-tier action with just three games remaining.

As a result, the form in the last fixtures matter greatly as the B71 outfit looks to end the campaign in positive fashion.

This could be set to kickstart against Derby, a side who sit 21st in the Championship and have gone four without a win themselves.

The likes of Karlan Grant and Tom Fellows need to step up and prove their worth and help earn a much-needed result at The Hawthorns.