West Bromwich Albion take on Fulham in a crunch match in the EFL Championship. A win for the Baggies would see them go eight points clear of their opponents.
West Bromwich Albion vs Fulham – EFL Championship
Promotion Race Set to Go to the Wire?
Just when you thought the race for promotion was beginning to shut, the weekend’s results have blown it right open again.
West Bromwich Albion, who are in pole position, travelled to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers. A game many thought the Baggies would come away with three points.
They dominated the match and got their lead just before the breakthrough Filip Krovinović’s close-range volley.
But the Baggies were not able to find a second, and it came back to haunt them. Joe Rothwell’s goal in the 63rd minute meant Albion travelled back with a mere point.
It was a huge disappointment for Bilic’s men. Following Brentford’s victory earlier that afternoon against Derby County, the gap is down to three points – not to mention the also Bees have a superior goal difference to Albion.
The draw at Ewood has also put Fulham back in the frame. They won 2-0 at home to Cardiff City on Friday which was guaranteed, their play-off spot.
But now there’s a real incentive for Scott Parker’s men that they will be going up automatically. A win for them at The Hawthorns would put them two points off the top two with two games to play.
Match Facts
West Bromwich Albion are undefeated in their last four games. Fulham have won their last four matches, and have kept a clean sheet in their last three.
Aleksander Mitrović scored on his return to action on Friday, following a three game ban for elbowing Leeds United’s Ben White. He is the League’s joint top scorer alongside Ollie Watkins with 24.
The Baggies will be without Jonathan Leko, while Fulham will be missing Aboubakar Kamara and Terence Kongolo.
Thoughts on the Match
Slaven Bilic would have disappointed by the fact his side didn’t put their chances away on Saturday.
But it’s still very much in The Baggies’ hands, with Brentford heading to Preston in midweek, they once again have a real chance of strengthening their position in the top two.
It’s not going to be easy, especially the form Fulham have been in. But they know a defeat would mean they would have to settle for the play-offs.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
