Former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips says the club would find it hard to prepare themselves for a play-off campaign were they to drop out of the Championship automatic promotion places in the final few games of the season.
Having occupied a top-two spot for just about all of the season so far, Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Blackburn means that with three games remaining, Slaven Bilic’s side are just three points clear of third-placed Brentford, who have a significantly better goal difference.
Consequentially, the prospect of a second straight play-off campaign is now lingering over the Baggies, who lost out in the semi-finals to Aston Villa last year, and Phillips believes the club could struggle if they find themselves in that position again this season.
Would you be confident of winning promotion via the play-offs?YesNo |
Speaking on EFL on Quest (11/07/20), Phillips was asked if West Brom would struggle if they had to adjust for a play-off campaign, with the ex-England international saying: “100%, especially with them being in the top two most of the season.
“Of course, what happened last year, I was there for the second leg, the disappointment. So that’ll be fresh in their mind as well.”
Discussing the challenge West Brom now face over the final three games of the regular season, Phillips continued: “It’s going to be tough because of Brentford.
“They’ll be worried I hope it doesn’t affect them, I hope they get over the line, but the pressure is really on.”
This is a difficult position for West Brom to be in at the minute.
Given were they currently are, they do not want to get in the mindset that they will be competing at the play-offs, as that could almost certainly cost them automatic promotion.
However, they cannot afford to be complacent either, something which could be equally damaging to their promotion hopes, particularly now there is no margin for error for Bilic and co. especially with that match with Fulham on the horizon.
