Supercomputer updates West Brom’s relegation chances after dramatic day in Championship
West Brom’s latest survival chances have been revealed after a battling 1-1 draw with Sheffield United on Saturday.
George Campbell‘s unfortunate own goal broke the deadlock on 53 minutes at Bramall Lane, before the defender made amends with an extraordinary equaliser.
Having snatched up a loose ball, Campbell charged to the edge of the box and blasted into the bottom corner to earn James Morrison his first point since taking charge.
Crucially, the result also lifted Albion out of the relegation zone, and now, Opta’s supercomputer has provided its latest verdict on the fight to avoid the drop.
- Read more: West Brom player ratings vs Sheffield United
West Brom told likely fate in fight to avoid the drop
Fellow strugglers Oxford United’s sensational victory against Preston North End on Friday night saw West Brom tumble into the bottom three – albeit only for 24 hours or so.
After that bombshell setback, Opta‘s permutations increased the Baggies’ odds of being relegated to 59.04 per cent, but the needle has now moved slightly.
Indeed, mere minutes after the full-time whistle blew at Sheffield United, their chances of tumbling into League One actually increased.
The figure now stands at 59.38 per cent, a marginal uptick from before the trip to Yorkshire.
- Oxford’s relegation chances are 57.38 per cent, with Leicester’s at 38.12 per cent.
- West Brom’s expected points tally is 47.78, 11 points more than their current tally.
- Albion’s xPTS is the third lowest in the Championship.
Leicester City’s 1-1 draw with promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town on a dramatic day in the Championship likely handed them the edge in the relegation dogfight, and this was factored into the supercomputer’s calculations.
It means West Brom are third-favourites for the drop, despite currently finding themselves above the dotted line.
Regardless, Albion must shut out the noise and treat their last 10 games like cup finals.
Albion must follow Sheffield United blueprint
It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the draw at Bramall Lane must be used as a template.
Morrison would have urged his players to dig in and keep fighting during the half-time break, and they heeded his words in the second half before grabbing a vital point.
While Campbell’s own goal could have opened the floodgates, the Baggies instead rallied back, and the centre-back’s equaliser was no less than they deserved.
The heart and willingness to roll up their sleeves are non-negotiables, but haven’t been on display enough this season, leading them to slump down the standings.
If anyone can encourage the squad to keep battling, Morrison can. A promotion hero and club legend at The Hawthorns, he is the perfect figure to drag the club over the line.
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