West Bromich Albion have a great mixture in terms of winnable games and near certain losses in their upcoming five league games. How will Alan Pardew’s men get on?
Having achieved back to back Premier League wins to kick off the season, things could not have gotten off to a much better start for West Brom. Sitting in third place back then, the club have been in either 19th or 20th place since the 18th round of fixtures, and remain planted to the bottom of the table showing no real signs of being able to climb out of the relegation zone.
Tony Pulis was sacked in late November and replaced by Alan Pardew, but things only went from bad to worse following the former Newcastle United manager’s appointment.
The club’s upcoming five games will see them face some contrasting opponents, facing up against two of the league’s finest teams whilst also playing against a few fellow relegation battling sides.
There will definitely be chances to pick up points along the way, but having lost their last seven games, it feels like even a small resurgence in terms of form will be a little too late.
This weekend, the Baggies play host to Burnley, who have enjoyed a magnificent season under Sean Dyche. However, the second of West Brom’s three wins this term came against Burnley way back on match day two, and the players will take some confidence from that going into the weekend clash.
Despite this, Burnley have proved a very difficult team to beat with a strong defence and tight structure, and a win for Pardew’s men feels unlikely.
Prediction: Loss
The next match will come against Swansea, in another home fixture, and presents one of the most realistic chances for the Baggies to pick up points. The Swans got the better of them last time out at the Liberty Stadium in a 1-0 defeat thanks to a Wilfried Bony goal. At this point, West Brom should be fighting for their lives and on their day are well capable of giving the Swans a run for their money.
At the Hawthorns, you would back them to pick up at least a point.
Prediction: Draw
Following the Burnley and Swansea fixtures, the Baggies face two teams who will likely confirm their relegation, in Manchester United and Liverpool. A trip to Old Trafford is no easy feat for any team, let alone a side that has only managed three wins the entire season, and despite the unpredictability of Jose Mourinho’s United in terms of quality, the gulf in class between the two teams will simply shine through.
It is hard to imagine anything other than a Manchester United victory in this game.
Prediction: Loss
Liverpool will present a similarly difficult task, although being at the Hawthorns, Pardew’s men have slightly more a chance of picking up some sort of result. However, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino scoring goals for fun this term, Ben Foster and his defence will have a serious task on their hands keeping the deadly trio at bay.
The Reds hit a useful Porto side for five away in the Champions League recently, and have showed no signs that they will slip up on their trip to the Midlands.
Prediction: Loss
Finally, West Brom will face a trip to Newcastle in their third last game of the campaign. The club may well have been relegated by this point, or alternatively, may have pulled off such a remarkable comeback that the game will require a victory to keep their survival hopes alive.
Strange things can happen during relegation battles and Newcastle themselves are right in the thick of it as well. The Magpies have enjoyed a much better season in terms of results than the Baggies, but have proven to be an easily beatable side on many occasion as well. Despite being away, West Brom may just steal a victory.
Prediction: Win
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