Josh Maja may yet save West Brom’s season after win vs Hull City – here’s why
West Brom took a giant leap towards Championship survival with a 3-0 win over Hull City on Saturday.
The Hawthorns faithful witnessed West Brom‘s 13-game Championship winless run come to a delightful and overdue end on Saturday, as James Morrison‘s men dispatched of promotion-chasing Hull in style.
Josh Maja got the scoring underway after 25 minutes, before the game’s major flashpoint occurred on 36 minutes, as Hull defender Charlie Hughes was shown a straight red card.
Albion eventually made their advantage pay in the second half, with goals from Aune Heggebo and Isaac Price capping off a brilliant performance, and earning the Baggies a vital three points in their quest for second tier survival.
Josh Maja was excellent in West Brom win vs Hull City
West Brom, to a man, were brilliant against Hull, but it was a day for Maja that has also been a long time coming.
His goal was his first in the Championship since netting the winner in the 1-0 win over Norwich back on 1 October 2025, and is only his second in the league this season.
As such, the 27-year-old has been coming in for major criticism for his lack of impact this term, with the frustrations being centred around the fact that his 12 goals in 26 games last season show how deadly a marksman he can be at this level.
But, it’s better late than never, and Albion may just be getting Maja back to his best at the perfect time after his showing against Hull on Saturday.
As per Sofascore, Maja took five shots against the Tigers, with two of those being on target, and took a total of 40 touches in the game.
He also made seven carries with the ball, played three key passes, completed 82 per cent of his passes accurately and was successful with two out of his three dribble attempts.
Maja was also a big contributor in the defensive aspect of Albion’s performance too, winning his sole tackle attempt, four out of his eight ground duels, three of his eight aerial duels and making two recoveries to boot.
All in all, it was a refreshingly excellent all-round performance from Maja, as he looked every bit of a top-class striker at Championship level: something which could see him fire Albion to safety.
- Read more: Where has it all gone wrong for Josh Maja at West Brom? Stats this season pinpoint Hawthorns truth
A firing Maja will keep West Brom in the Championship
Having scored his first Championship goal in five-and-a-half months against Hull, it would be easy for Maja to bathe in that glory, and possibly take his eye of the ball over the next few games as a result.
West Brom can’t afford for him to do that, as they know that a confident, hungry and firing Maja is a good enough centre-forward to drag Morrison’s men to safety pretty much by himself.
This is his big chance to redeem himself in the eyes of The Hawthorns faithful, who have quite rightly been far from pleased with his lack of contributions to the cause this term.
Now is the time for Maja to become a cult hero in B71, as he looks to emerge from the shadows and step into the spotlight, just in the nick of time.
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