West Brom can’t rely on The Hawthorns to secure their Championship status
Time is running out for West Brom to pull away from the Championship’s relegation zone.
Whether that task will fall to current interim head coach James Morrison or someone else between now and the end of the season, however, remains for Shilen Patel to decide.
West Brom‘s 2-1 defeat away at Oxford United saw Albion pass up another golden opportunity to pull four points clear of 22nd-placed Leicester, as they made it 11 Championship games without a win.
Their task of ending that dismal run isn’t getting any easier either, with a trip to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United on Saturday next on the Baggies’ agenda.
However, it’s on their travels where Albion may just have their best chance of collecting enough points to salvage their second tier status.
West Brom have brutal run of remaining games at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns used to be one of the most impenetrable fortresses in the Championship, with opposition sides rarely returning home from their travels to B71 with smiles on their faces.
Indeed, even despite their struggles in the league this season, Albion have still taken 24 of their 35 points at home this term, with six wins, six draws and five defeats from 17 at their iconic ground.
However, they may not be able to rely upon it between now and the end of the season, as the list of teams still to come to The Hawthorns is frightening.
Southampton, Hull City, Wrexham, Millwall, Watford and Ipswich Town make up West Brom’s remaining six home league games this season.
All of these sides currently hold a top-half position, with Watford (ninth) and Southampton (seventh) the only two sides not occupying a top-six spot at the moment respectively.
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West Brom’s remaining away games are kinder
As such, all of those six Hawthorns games look incredibly difficult for West Brom to take many points from.
So, how does their remaining away schedule look in comparison? Well, it’s certainly kinder than their home one.
Sheffield United, Bristol City, Blackburn, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday are the grounds Albion still have to tick off this term.
It’s not an easy set of games either by any means, but trips to Sheffield Wednesday, Preston and Blackburn certainly stand out as their best avenues to collecting enough points to avoid the drop.
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