West Brom v Hull preview: Albion should be confident ahead of daunting fixtures

Albion’s next six foes currently sit in the division’s top eight and how Carlos Corberan’s side come through this period will underline whether or not their top-six credentials for next May are serious.

Hull, currently seventh, are followed by a trip to Southampton on Saturday week. The Saints have recovered from a slow start to sit fourth.

The other side of the upcoming international break sees home contests against the division’s top two as Ipswich and Leicester head to the Black Country, with trips to Cardiff and Sunderland also in the mix.

It’s a daunting prospect, on paper at least.

Corberan will not, publicly, pay any attention to the run. After Coventry on Monday he noted the challenge of games against Hull and Sunderland, but the Spaniard will not be interested in looking further down the line.

His side do, though, head into the period in good shape. Defensively it is as good as Albion have been since the flying early months of Corberan’s tenure. Only Leicester have conceded fewer league goals, no side has achieved more Championship clean sheets – no opponent will see the Baggies as easy picking.

Some of Albion’s recent opposition have struggled at varying points this season, but the form of Corberan’s team should not be dismissed for that reason alone.

The recent rearguard record should have provided a real injection of confidence into the ranks. It was painfully clear after the opening handful of games this season that Albion were underperforming at the back, and even the performances of goalkeeper Alex Palmer suffered, in spells.

Jeremy Sarmiento should be available, in some capacity, against the Tigers at The Hawthorns tomorrow.

The likelihood is, after a month or so on the sidelines, he will start from the bench, but his presence will be a boost for Corberan and the Baggies faithful.

The international break this month is otherwise well-timed. Albion’s attacking injuries are documented. Sarmiento’s return is useful but John Swift and Josh Maja aren’t back until when action resumes, with Daryl Dike pencilled in for the new year. The fortnight allows them more time to recover.

Albion will be aware they head into a potentially decisive, albeit very early, period of the campaign.

There should be confidence, both internally and externally, that should Corberan’s men manage to remain in or around sixth they can stick it out for the months ahead and mix it with rival play-off contenders.

Starting on a positive footing against the Tigers before a tricky trip to the south coast would be just the ticket.