Analysis: Home straight and West Brom look to be play-off bound

Saturday’s routine 2-0 victory over mid-table Bristol City was, just that, routine. It was unspectacular, done with minimal fuss, and unlikely to warrant any full-match replays – unless you go by the name of Corberan, that is.

Supporters merely watched on with little drama, no concern and very little doubt as their side’s seventh home win in eight games felt all wrapped up by the time Jed Wallace doubled the lead on 50 minutes.

Albion are now extremely well-placed for play-off action come May, which remains a remarkable effort from the head coach, staff and players.

That praise should extend to non-football staff behind the scenes, too, who were able to guide the club forward in the turmoil and uncertainty of a change in ownership, the choppy waters of dwindling finances kept afloat by loans.

The club’s picture off the field is totally different now, under Shilen Patel and his family in Florida. The days of Guochuan Lai are still a fresh memory, and the club shall continue to deal with the repercussions for some time, but it appears prosperous days are ahead.

On the pitch, Corberan deserves significant credit for guiding the club into this position. Some may argue the Spaniard’s squad is good enough to be pushing for a top-six spot in this division, but this is as strong a Championship, certainly at the top end, for a good while.

That aside, Albion have been in fifth place in the division – almost exclusively barring a week or two – since October. The top four have gallivanted into the sunset in that time but the Baggies, best of the rest, have not been disillusioned or allowed themselves to be a target for any number of clubs beneath them, who have all traded places and seen form come and go in a bid to try to hang on Albion’s coat-tails in fifth.

Eight points clear of Hull in seventh, who admittedly boast a game in hand, with eight league games remaining.

The way Albion are playing, some of the sides they have left to face and players due to return from injury, it would take quite the wobble to drop out of the top six from here.

Saturday wasn’t perfect. Bristol City are funny opposition, skipper Wallace said as much afterwards, they have a peculiar style under rookie boss Liam Manning and are, as usual, middling in the table with patchy form at best.

The Hawthorns fell flat after an exuberant early atmosphere – there was more feeling in The Liquidator as home fans rejoiced Wolves’ FA Cup collapse against Coventry – as a flat contest lacking in tempo or urgency broke out.

The game desperately lacked a spark in the final third and the only time it threatened was the visitors’ Tommy Conway denied one-on-one by Alex Palmer. It was the only real save Palmer had to make all day, but he makes those saves so well, making himself big to prevent oncomers. A 16th clean sheet of the league season in 38 games, only Leeds’ Illan Meslier is just ahead.

That could have changed the game’s projection but Tom Fellows’ opener on the stroke of half-time changed everything.

What a 2024 the homegrown gem is enjoying. He capped a week that involved a first international call – he heads away with England’s under-20s this week – with his fifth Albion goal, a fourth in the league, and all since the turn of the year. It was an excellent left-footed finish.

Wallace’s tap-in five minutes after half-time, after great work from Mikey Johnston and the returning Conor Townsend, felt like it all-but sealed the victory.

It could’ve been by a greater margin. Grady Diangana, Johnston, Okay Yokuslu and Fellows saw openings come and go before the Robins huffed and puffed at a late rally, flicking the woodwork twice, but in truth comfortable Albion were barely stretched. It felt like Albion hardly had to find third gear.

Celtic loanee Johnston, while not adding to his goal tally or registering an assist, was influential in the build-up to both goals and, for the first time at Albion, played 90 minutes, something not lost on Corberan afterwards.

The Spaniard’s recruitment of the wing ace unquestionably breathed new life into Albion’s play-off quest.

The outlook ahead is bright. A near-fortnight break is nicely-timed. A chance to refuel, yes a break in good momentum – one defeat in 10 – but weary limbs rested as players are off until Thursday.

The prospect of Matt Phillips and Josh Maja, two more attackers, recovering for the other side of the break is a useful one.

There is work to do, Corberan won’t let his side forget that, but the 46-game finish line is in sight.