Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
West Brom’s Premier League status has been confirmed for another season after reaching the 40 point marker last week and in fairness it’s a lot earlier than many would have imagined them do so. With the concern of relegation now needless the question can be whether West Brom can kick on or just rest on their laurels for the rest of the season.
We saw a similar thing happen with Bournemouth, once top flight status was secured last season they were all but on the beach for the remaining weeks of the season. Now you could say that they earned the right to do so after reaching their objective, but you get the feeling that Tony Pulis will not allow West Brom’s season to fizzle out in the same manner.
Especially with the club in the heady heights of 8th place and especially what with Manchester United winning the EFL Cup which in turn opens up another Europa League place to the league places. West Brom’s hopes of an unlikely European adventure next season are still ones that can be considered.
To do so though they are not only going to have to solidify 8th but also look to close the gap on an in form Everton side who sit 4 points clear of them in 7th and to cut that gap they are going to have continue their solid home form as Crystal Palace travel to The Hawthorns this Afternoon.
Last week saw West Brom come from behind against struggling Bournemouth and run out 2-1 winners, that win sees them open up a 7 point gap over West Ham in 9th. If West Brom can finish 8th or above then it has to be considered a very successful season indeed.
As for their opponents Palace the only thing that can be considered success is Premier League survival. It is as simple as that, they still find themselves in the bottom three but there is cause for a bit more optimism for everyone connected to the Selhurst Park outfit.
A win over Middlesbrough last weekend in what was very much a ‘six pointer’ sees them now on the exact same points as Aitor Karanka’s side, Patrick Van Aanholt’s goal was enough to give Palace the win but not quite enough to get them out of the bottom three.
That is because their tendency to ship goals sees them with a worse goal difference than ‘Boro and therefore on the wrong side of the dottted relegation line. But they do now have something that ‘Boro don’t have and that is a springboard to finally start their escape bid.
Life under Sam Allardyce has not really gone to plan as of yet with the clubs league position worsening since his arrival, but with that win under their belts last Saturday they have to now make sure it is not a false dawn and now actually work their way up the table.
They’ve certainly got the right man in which to do so, perhaps the bid for survival has taken longer to get going but you get the feeling that last Saturday’s result was the one that saw all the pieces finally click for Big Sam and he will look to make it back to back wins for the first time since taking charge of the club.
We’ve got two Premier League managerial heavyweights going head to head as Pulis faces Allardyce, it may not have the glamour of Mourinho versus Guardiola but it is certainly no less important. Earlier in the week I said this would be a home win, I have a sneaky feeling this may be a draw.
