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Express & Star journalist Matt Wilson has expressed the major concern he has with West Bromwich Albion ahead of their play-off semi-final clash with Aston Villa. The Albion reporter was offering his thoughts to the Baggies Broadcast.
What’s he said?
One word you can come up with to describe West Brom’s end to the season is inconsistent. Ever since Darren Moore was sacked, the club has been stuck in a similar position.
Jimmy Shan has done an encouraging job with his side and after all, they’re in the play-offs. However, a defeat to Derby on the final day outlined problems that are still lingering.
It was a poor performance and although there was a degree of rotation, Albion will have to be significantly better if they want to achieve promotion.
One major concern, according to The Express & Star’s Wilson, is the mentality surrounding the team. He urged for that to change with the polar opposite being felt by their semi-final opposition Aston Villa. Speaking to Baggies Broadcast (06/05, 8.15) he said:
“It’s all very positive at Villa at the moment. It’s all very negative at Albion. Everyone seems to be doom and gloom. Even Jimmy at the end of the game – I think he’s probably doing that to get a reaction from his side because he knows they can be better.
“That’s the concerning thing for me, one team is going into these matches with a positive mentality and one club is going into these games with a negative mentality. Something that needs to change over the next four, five, six days is that switch and then all of a sudden Albion are up for it.”
Something has to change
When it comes to the play-offs, it’s all about momentum. Arguably, West Brom are the side that are lacking it most which is obviously a huge cause for concern going into the biggest matches of the season.
West Brom’s play has lacked fluidity since a 4-1 win over Preston and, with Shan experimenting with different players and systems, it’s been hard to get a reading of where the club actually are going into the play-offs.
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However, Wilson is absolutely spot on in his assessment of the atmosphere at the club. The Baggies are in with a chance of securing promotion but it doesn’t feel like that’s the case at all.
It’s something that could have a devastating effect. The positive for them, though, will be the fact that they haven’t lost to the Villans this season.
They might well need that omen to spur them on this Saturday.