All good things in life must come to an end, and in football, that statement couldn’t be truer for West Brom.
The Baggies’ brilliant 14-game unbeaten run finally came to an end this weekend at the hands of Middlesbrough, with Jonathan Woodgate’s side claiming a 2-0 win at the Hawthorns to end West Brom’s sensational streak but to also send the Albion down to second place with Leeds United winning as well.
With West Brom now tied on points with Marcelo Bielsa’s side in the Championship table but below Leeds on goal difference, the race for the title has this weekend taken another unexpected but entertaining turn, and on New Year’s Day, the two clubs will finally meet in what is likely to be one of the biggest games in the division this season.
Do West Brom need to spend in January?
Yes, the squad needs that extra something
No, we're sorted for now
Which is why West Brom’s unbeaten run has come at the worst possible time for the club.
As we have seen time and time again in football, a single loss can be the fall of a club, and with West Brom teasing with defeat for multiple weeks now as some of their recent results and performances show, falling to Middlesbrough could see the Baggies continue down this negative spiral.
With Leeds next to play for the Albion, it will be some impressive feat for Slaven Bilic’s side to overcome one of the Championship’s best sides and their direct rivals for the league title, and weeks of poor performances could see West Brom take a massive blow against the Whites in the race for first place.
West Brom’s unbeaten run was always going to end eventually, but with performances being poor in recent weeks and a defeat now capping off this run of form, Leeds will be fancying their chances on New Year’s Day against the Baggies.