West Brom have to show a nasty side if Eric Ramsay is to mastermind Coventry result
A West Midlands derby is on the agenda at The Hawthorns on Saturday, as West Brom take on Coventry City.
Eric Ramsay is still searching for his first West Brom win since becoming head coach, but there isn’t a much better fixture to get it in than a Midlands derby clash.
However, that’s going to be far easier said than done, as newly-restored Championship leaders Coventry City made their case for being the best team in the division when dispatching of Middlesbrough 3-1 on Monday night.
The mood around The Hawthorns is at the lowest its been for quite some time at the moment, but getting any kind of result against Frank Lampard‘s side this Saturday could be the catalyst for a revival of form and belief.
Eric Ramsay must instruct West Brom players to show nasty side vs Coventry
Throughout the 2025-26 season so far, West Brom have all too often been out-fought and out-desired in games.
This, of course, is not the only reason why Albion are sitting 20th in the Championship table and just two points above the relegation zone, but it’s certainly a significant contributing factor.
But, when it comes to playing Coventry on Saturday, that simply can’t be the case, as especially in front of a home crowd, Baggies fans will expect a blood and thunder performance from their players.
As per Sofascore, however, Albion are committing the 15th-fewest fouls per match in the Championship this season, with 10.3 fouls per game on average.
So, whilst this may be seen as a positive in some respects, it once again points towards a team that isn’t showing enough fight and nastiness.
Coventry bullied Middlesbrough on Monday night, and so whilst Boro monopolised possession, the Sky Blues’ organisation, work rate and fighting spirit limited Kim Hellberg’s side to just four shots on target.
If West Brom let Coventry play their fluid football uninterrupted this weekend, then Lampard’s league-leaders will surely tear Albion apart, and so Ramsay’s men must make it a scrappy, physical game at all costs.
West Brom’s recent head to head record against Coventry
So, the form book certainly points towards a Coventry win on Saturday, but what do the history books tell us?
Well, the Sky Blues have beaten the Baggies in their last two meetings, with the reverse fixture in November of last year seeing Coventry run out 3-2 winners at the CBS Arena.
However, prior to the last two clashes, Albion had won four-straight against Coventry, dating back to February 2023, and so the overall recent history is more in favour of the Baggies.
Albion are unbeaten in their last four games against Coventry at The Hawthorns, and if that becomes five this weekend, it will release a whole lot of pressure from Ramsay’s shoulders.
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