Football League World
·7 December 2024
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·7 December 2024
Tom Fellows has admitted West Brom feel the same as fans amid their recent barren run prior to Sheffield United clash.
West Bromwich Albion have had a strange couple of months, and after setting the pace early on this season, they have slowly started to slip down the table, with Tom Fellows outlining the players' frustration as well.
It's fair to say that Albion don’t have much momentum right now, with nine draws in their last 10 league outings prior to hosting Sheffield United this weekend. The Baggies have shown strong resilience as they do not concede regularly, but their output has dropped at the other end after a promising start to the season.
On the face of it, the Baggies are in a healthy position just outside the play-off places, and most fans would’ve taken that after a busy summer following their play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton last season. However, when you've won just once in 10 games, it raises valid concerns.
Carlos Corberan has a variety of different attacking options at his disposal this season, many of whom are yet to get off the mark with a direct goal or assist in the Championship, to the concern of Albion supporters. He will undoubtedly want more from the likes of Jed Wallace, Mikey Johnston, John Swift, Devante Cole, and Grady Diangana in terms of output in attack.
The squad’s cohesion, alongside standout performers like Alex Mowatt, Josh Maja, and Fellows has them in a good position, but they need to turn the draws into wins if they are to achieve a top-six finish.
Ahead of Sunday's game against the Blades, Fellows admitted that he and his West Brom teammates are as frustrated at the volume of draws as the fans are. Speaking via the club's official website, he said: “It’s a really hard game, but probably the perfect one to try and put things right in.
“Beating them would give us a huge amount of confidence because they’re a really good side. We need that belief and, hopefully, that can help us kick on and find more wins.
“Players, fans, we all feel the same things. They’re invested into it as much as we are, they come every week and in the build-up to matches, they’re probably watching clips and anything they can of us on social media.
“The feeling for us is similar as it is for the supporters. We’re frustrated and it’s a tough time at the minute, but this is a time where you really have to dig in deep to try and change the momentum we’re in.
“All it can take is a bit of luck, or a ball goes in that you don’t expect, we beat a team, get a bit of confidence and all of sudden, you’re flying again.
“In the Championship, it’s so tight and everyone says it, but every game is different and no one ever gives you anything for free in this league. We have to work even harder if we want to turn things around.”
The Baggies will face challenges from other promotion-chasing clubs, making January pivotal not just for them but for many Championship sides hoping to secure the final pieces of their promotion puzzle. Fellows is a key part of that, but they need more support in terms of output.
Operating under an EFL-imposed business plan could have repercussions, but Albion know they must hit the mark with acquisitions. Performances in terms of the floor level makes them hard to beat, with Corberan’s tactical approach, marked by a well-drilled defence, meaning they do not concede regularly.
It is why draws have been plentiful thus far, but also highlights the need for players who can help turn those into wins, with West Brom needing to convert solid performances into results and points more consistently.
For a side looking to go better than just the play-offs, the inconsistency in delivering meaningfully in the final third has been a letdown for Corberan and the club's supporters, but January provides the opportunity to rectify that; as does Sunday's mammoth clash with the Blades, where a win could take them closer to the automatic promotion places.