Why Alfie Gilchrist will play key role in West Brom stopping Coventry in Championship
Alfie Gilchrist could play a huge role as West Brom return to action against Championship leaders Coventry on Saturday.
Gilchrist joined West Brom on a permanent deal from Chelsea in the summer, but he had to wait until matchweek 12 to make his full debut for the Baggies.
George Campbell’s groin injury leaves Gilchrist set to reprise his role in the starting lineup at right-back.
Gilchrist was excellent against Oxford United on 8 November, but he faces a completely different test against the Championship’s most potent attack.
The Sky Blues have scored 40 league goals in 2025-26, and Gilchrist will have to use his physical prowess to help the Baggies achieve an unlikely result.
Alfie Gilchrist can use his physicality against Haji Wright
West Brom are expected to lose against Coventry, and it feels like Ryan Mason’s men could be in for a tough 90 minutes.
They’ll need to sustain waves of pressure at the CBS Arena, and Lampard’s side will be dangerous from all areas in their 4-4-2 formation.
Haji Wright is lethal in the box, and as crosses are swung in, Gilchrist will have to be aware of the danger he poses at the back post.
| Stat | Alfie Gilchrist |
| Appearances | 5 |
| Pass accuracy | 82.8% |
| Duels won | 73.7% |
| Aerial duels won | 85.7% |
Brandon Thomas-Asante, who plays as the right striker for Coventry, is the joint-top goalscorer in the Championship with 10 goals in 15 matches, with that form never seen while at The Hawthorns.
The deadly duo have a knack for being clinical at this level, and Gilchrist’s high rate of duels won is a huge bonus for the Baggies.
Coventry’s midfielders Matt Grimes and Victor Torp are also a threat when it comes to making late runs into the box, and Gilchrist will need to be on high alert throughout the match.
Although West Brom have a good recent record against the hosts, they’ll be looking to become the first team to walk away from the CBS Arena with all three points this season.
How can West Brom stop Coventry?
Mason is under pressure at West Brom, and 13 points separate the sides ahead of 22 November.
The Baggies have been lethargic in possession this season, and creating clear-cut chances has been a real problem for the team.
It’s clear that they have the best chance of claiming a result if they sit back and absorb the pressure, and Mikey Johnston is a great outlet on the left wing if the Baggies hit the Sky Blues effectively on the counter-attack.
Of course, that is much easier said than done, and West Brom will need to rely on both luck and brilliance if they want to avoid losing back-to-back games against Coventry for the first time in 40 years.
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