Mowbray hints major change to West Brom XI v Bristol City

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelance writer and broadcaster in various sports.

Published on:

08 Apr 2025, 12:13 pm

West Brom are preparing for one of the most potentially season-defining matches of their season on Tuesday night as they head to Bristol City.

Albion have slipped behind their midweek opponents (8 April) after they were beaten at The Hawthorns by Sunderland on Saturday, while the Robins recovered from their first defeat in eight against Burnley to beat Watford.

Mowbray has endured a mixed start to life back as Baggies boss, as pressure builds to secure a play-off spot for a second successive season.

Mowbray knows the task is clear (Credit: Imago)

Mowbray shape change hinted for Bristol City trip

West Brom have an array of attacking talent, but are finding it hard to break teams down - it has been a trend of their season even before the managerial change.

The occasional positive attacking display is merely scattered among a litany of frustrating matches which have resulted in far too many draws, and now marginal defeats.

Mowbray is still trying to work out his best formula with the forward players at his disposal, with a huge incentive from Tuesday's contest on the Severn of a chance to leapfrog their opponents with victory.

Lewis Cox of the Express & Star posted on X (8 April), among his quote sharing: "Players [are] feeling confused and frustrated, [Mowbray] hints at two up front, abandoning methods to go more direct to win with 40 per cent possession at this crunch time in season. Big night ahead."

West Brom reached the top six via their smooth consistency and organisation under Carlos Corberan last season, even if the play-offs themselves did not live up to expectations.

However, this term has been anything but consistent, and Liam Manning's side will fancy their chances on home turf against the "confused" Albion outfit that awaits them.

Adam Armstrong is the only winter attacking signing to have opened his Baggies account (Credit: Imago)

West Brom face make-or-break trio of fixtures

West Brom know if they do not pick up enough points from their next three, they will find themselves in dire straits.

After the midweek trip to Bristol City, next comes a contest with outsiders Watford at The Hawthorns, motivated by the fact they need to beat the teams narrowly above them to stand a chance at sneaking a top-six spot.

POS	Championship table 2024-25	PLD	PTS	GD
5	Middlesbrough	40	60	+12
6	Bristol City	40	59	+8
7	Coventry	40	57	+4
8	WEST BROM	40	57	+12
9	Millwall	40	54	-2
10	Watford	40	53	-5

(Heading into 8 April fixtures)

Afterwards, it's an all-Midlands showdown with Coventry City - a side who have, in the main, looked very astute in their promotion hunt. They have, however, come up short against top two Sheffield United and Burnley in their last two games - meaning they joined the Baggies over the weekend in dropping out of the play-offs.

It's all hands on deck for a side who need to find their rhythm sharpish as the games become ticked off thick and fast.

Tony Mowbray