This week, as much as the Championship is famed for being an incredibly tough league with games following the Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday schedule, West Bromwich Albion don’t have a midweek game for the first time since mid-February (Transfermarkt).
For Slaven Bilic, this could be absolutely key. The Baggies are in a rotten run of form, having picked up one point out of six and bowing out of the FA Cup in their last three games, and next up is a clash at home to Birmingham which will give them a chance to return to winning ways.
With this upcoming clash and the fact that West Brom have a week off to work on the training ground, Bilic has got the perfect conditions to whip his side into shape to get back to winning ways this weekend, which should be easy for Bilic given his record this season.
The Croatian gaffer has had a wonderful season in charge of the Baggies so far in his debut campaign, turning the Baggies into the Championship’s most dangerous side in terms of goalscoring as well as making them the hardest to beat, as they’ve suffered the fewest defeats this season (BBC).
Leeds United may have leapfrogged the Baggies and taken the top spot from the West Midlands side, but there are still nine games to play this season and there is every chance that with some extra work on the training ground this week and with a big momentum-building win against the Blues on Saturday that the Baggies can go on to top the league again.
Will Slaven Bilic guide us back to the Premier League?
Yes
No
We’re in the home straight for the Baggies now too in terms of Saturday-Tuesday games. They only face one more midweek evening game in the Championship (Transfermarkt), so making use of the time on the training ground this week and in the coming weeks will be key for Bilic.