One year of Carlos: A rollercoaster first 12 months in the West Brom hot seat for Carlos Corberan

While working under significant constraints of a want-away ownership and zero investment, Corberan took Albion from the Championship drop zone to the bring of the play-offs last season and an overall positive opening to the current campaign has them fifth after 13 games.

We've sought out one picture from each of Corberan's 12 months in the hotseat, to tell the story of a rollercoaster first year.

October – Taking in new surroundings.

Corberan and his coaching staff take their place for the clash against Sheffield United just a couple of days after their appointments.

Albion were beaten by the eventual promotion-winners, conceding goals in the first half, as the scale of the task dawned on the head coach.

Interesting is to note the substitute bench behind Corberan featuring Okay Yokuslu, Jayson Molumby, Brandon Thomas-Asante and John Swift, who went on to become regulars.

November – Feel the relief

Turkish favourite Yokuslu, recalled to the line-up a few days later against Blackpool, scored a scrappy but priceless late winner against the Seasiders to earn Corberan a first victory.

The head coach often refers to the importance of that maiden win in the injection it gave the Baggies to escape their predicament.

It was the first of three straight wins before the World Cup break, which went a long way to easing very real relegation fears.

December – What a return!

Quite the return – in more ways the one.

The winning streak continued the other side of the World Cup break as the Baggies made it four straight wins – the run ended after a fifth – in part thanks to the fit-again Daryl Dike.

He crashed in a header after Tom Rogic's fine equaliser and theme of improved second halves would continue.

By this point Albion had the top half well in their sights and 2022 was rounded off with some key wins.

January – Replay pain for Albion and Phillips

The 4-0 home FA Cup replay win over non-league Chesterfield was otherwise largely forgettable – but for a season-ending injury to substitute Matt Phillips.

Phillips had been rejuvenated under Corberan and a crucial part in a number of wins, but his season was ended by the quad injury, leading some asking if it was right Phillips came on as a late sub.

Albion struggled for he same relentless consistency thereafter, form came in peaks and troughs. Elsewhere in the month was the high of a Luton comeback and a low of a late Burnley defeat and a poor FA Cup exit.

February – Feeling the Blues

Alex Palmer's training injury promoted David Button back between the sticks and – after one clean sheet against Coventry – it all went wrong at St. Andrew's.

Button, who left in the summer, was at fault for both goals in a limp 2-0 defeat in Birmingham as Albion lost more ground on a night to forget.

Albion followed up with a draw against Blackburn and Watford defeat, with only one more win to finish a tough month.

March – Priceless wins

March was about returning to winning ways against lowly visitors after a desperate defeat at Hull to start the month.

Wigan and Huddersfield came to The Hawthorns in the space of five games and academy graduate Josh Griffiths – recalled from a loan at Portsmouth – delivered a clean sheet in consecutive 1-0 wins. The youngster proved he could step up.

They weren't rip-roaring contests and don't live well in the memory but only maximum points would kept Albion in the play-off hunt before an international break.

April – Eight-game marathon

With just one final regulation game to come in May, a jam-packed April would decide the season.

The month started badly against Millwall, Rotherham especially and QPR, before wins at Stoke and Blackpool offered small hope – despite the hammerblow of Dike's Achilles injury in the former.

But the crunch clash came against rivals Sunderland at The Hawthorns, and a rare home defeat, 2-1, despite taking the lead.

It was not mathematically done – but the play-off dream all-but ended that day.

May – Not to be

A faint play-off hope remained on the line on the final day at Swansea but it wasn't to be for Corberan's men.

The head coach was captured hand on heart offering his commiserations to Baggies fans for not leading them to the play-off and a Wembley dream.

An uncertain summer lay ahead, though Corberan was briefed to expect key exits from his squad due to financial concerns.

June – Dara exit painful but necessary

With only four senior players out of contract, it became clear Albion would be required to sell at least one key player to ease the financial burden by bringing funds in and lowering the wage bill. A task still going on today.

Academy graduate and captain across 2022/23 O'Shea had made wonderful strides at Albion and was excellent under Corberan, but his £7million exit to newly-promoted Burnley worked for all parties.

He was worth more, but the fee helped stabilise the Baggies in a difficult summer and would ensure they didn't cave in to further low-ball offers.

July – A signing – at last!

Baggies fans' patience was tested during the summer and it took until the very end of July, barely days before the new Championship season, for Corberan to add to his squad.

Jeremy Sarmiento checked in, an exciting Ecuadorian winger from Brighton. He would be the first of three summer signings – two loans and a free agent, underlining the restraints of Corberan's first summer.

At the time of writing in late October, none of the three have so far been able to take off with Albion.

August – Major boost with Maja?

Striker Maja was a free agent recruit Albion had in their sights for some time and were pleased to net the former Bordeaux hitman.

There was anticipation as the former Sunderland youngster was involved for the first time, in the season's first win against Swansea.

The Nigerian showed some sharp touches late on from the bench, but any progresses was cruelly ended by an ankle injury the following month. Can he make a big return this season?

September – PNE rout a sign of potential

Quite the way to end a run of four winless games and three draws on the spin.

This was Albion's best away display and victory in Corberan's 11 months. Preston were unstoppable at home – but the Baggies ran riot at Deepdale.

It provided a glimpse into the qualities at Corberan's disposal and how ruthless Albion can be near their top level.