Lewis Cox's West Brom analysis: Mission has to be for better

Goals, or a lack of, have plagued the club all season. Firstly under Carlos Corberan and then under his replacement Tony Mowbray, who was brought in to find a way in the final third.

Mowbray's bid to take off the handbrake and tickle his players' tummies failed rather spectacularly and was a short-lived experiment.

Interim James Morrison, in to see out the final two games of the season, then oversaw a final-day chaotic romp with five goals thrashed in and eight in total leaving any neutral satisfied. It is pleasing Morrison, a very decent man and Albion legend like former caretaker Chris Brunt, was able to sign off from the home Hawthorns dugout with a win.

Albion managed two five-goal hauls at home in 2025 alone and yet their total of 57 goals in 46 league games this season is a measly one and well short of what is required for a proper promotion side.

Three goals shipped to relegated Luton also rather typified this squad since Corberan's exit at 20 to midnight on Christmas Eve.

A resilient and watertight backline was Corberan's strength and trademark. The Spaniard has taken that successfully to Valencia. Since his exit Albion have been disastrous from a defensive perspective. The previous weekend's stalemate at Cardiff was a rare effort. Goals have been flying in left, right and centre.

Managerless Albion's season unravelled to an eventual finish of ninth. It has been a desperate finale of regret and what-ifs. Nineteen - yes, 19 - draws. Not quite a Football League record but not far off. And there has only been one in the last eight games. At one stage the Baggies were a shoo-in for that badge of dishonour.