{"id":557835,"date":"2020-07-14T00:00:15","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T04:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=557835"},"modified":"2020-08-21T12:09:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T16:09:33","slug":"west-brom-take-on-fulham-in-huge-promotion-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/07\/14\/west-brom-take-on-fulham-in-huge-promotion-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"West Bromwich Albion Face Fulham in Huge Promotion Clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

West Bromwich Albion<\/a> take on Fulham<\/a> in a crunch match in the EFL Championship<\/a>. A win for the Baggies would see them go eight points clear of their opponents.<\/p>\n

West Bromwich Albion vs Fulham – EFL Championship<\/h2>\n

Promotion Race Set to Go to the Wire?<\/h3>\n

Just when you thought the race for promotion was beginning to shut, the weekend’s results have blown it right open again.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

They dominated the match and got their lead just before the breakthrough Filip Krovinovi\u0107’s<\/a> close-range volley.<\/p>\n

But the Baggies were not able to find a second, and it came back to haunt them. Joe Rothwell’s<\/a> goal in the 63rd minute meant Albion travelled back with a mere point.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Match Facts<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Aleksander Mitrovi\u0107<\/a> scored on his return to action on Friday, following a three game ban for elbowing Leeds United’s Ben White<\/a>. He is the League’s joint top scorer alongside Ollie Watkins<\/a> with 24.<\/p>\n

The Baggies will be without Jonathan Leko, while Fulham will be missing Aboubakar Kamara<\/a> and Terence Kongolo.<\/a><\/p>\n

Thoughts on the Match<\/h2>\n

Slaven Bilic would have disappointed by the fact his side didn’t put their chances away on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>