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West Brom v Fulham - Match Preview

It’s a game that needs no introduction.

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Slaven Bilic head coach / manager of West Bromwich Albion speaks to his players during a drinks break in the first half (AMA)

Albion host Fulham this evening knowing they are just three results away from winning promotion to the Premier League.

At this stage of the season, points are the only thing that really matter.

But if Slaven Bilic’s side can win tonight, it will not only give them an enormous confidence boost – it will also send a huge message to their automatic promotion rivals.

Despite a sluggish first few games, the Baggies have actually been very good since football was able to return following the coronavirus pandemic.

They go into tonight’s match having taken 10 points from a possible 12.

The trouble is Brentford have done even better – with Thomas Franks’ side aiming for their eighth consecutive victory when they host Preston North End tomorrow.

It is Albion’s draw against Blackburn on Saturday that has led to anxiety levels increasing ahead of tonight’s game.

The truth is the Baggies should have won comfortably at Ewood Park after creating a host of excellent chances.

But they were unable to find that crucial second goal. And that means Brentford cut the gap from five points to just three.

Nevertheless, promotion is still very much in Albion’s hands.

Even if they draw tonight, wins over Huddersfield and QPR will see them return to the Premier League.

And that means Fulham’s visit is more ‘must not lose’ than ‘must win.’

The Cottagers, though, have to take all three points if they are going to keep alive their faint hopes of going up automatically.

And it’s going to be fascinating to see how both managers approach the game – with each having chopped and changed between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 systems this season.

Back in September, the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.

Albion started that day in a 4-2-3-1 while Fulham were 4-3-3.

And it’s fair to say for half-an-hour the host’s midfield three – with the extra man – ran rings around Bilic’s side.

It wasn’t until Albion’s head coach matched them up that the Baggies got a foothold on the game.

Since then, though, Fulham have also switched to 4-2-3-1, largely due to the absence of skipper Tom Cairney.

And with so much at stake and the margins likely to be fine, those managerial decisions could be the difference tonight.

For Bilic, the message to his players has been very simple. He has told them to enjoy the occasion and play with confidence.

The disappointment of the draw at Blackburn – together with Brentford’s incredible run – has somewhat overshadowed that the Baggies are in excellent form. But they are playing well and have every right to enter tonight’s game with confidence.

“We are at that stage of the season – until you cross that finish line of course there is anxiety,” Bilic said. “And to be fair there is a team below us in Brentford that is pushing us to the limit.

“But we are doing well, we are doing well.

“If it wasn’t for them we would probably be safe, it would be done. But they are doing well and credit to them.

“We have to continue to do what we are doing. That is winning games.

“Of course, the supporters are a bit nervous, the players are a bit nervous.

“Everybody’s a bit nervous. This is a big thing. It would be a big achievement.

“Everything that is big requires calmness because there will be difficulties. If it was easy it wouldn’t be a big achievement.”

Having played particularly well in their last two, Bilic has told his players to go out and do the same again.

“In the dressing room after Blackburn the guys were flat,” he added.

“I said ‘hey, there is no reason to be’.

“The result is one thing. But we are playing well.

“We just do the same, perhaps with a bit more concentration and just a little bit of luck to convert those chances.

“That is my message to the players.”

Predicted team: Johnstone, Townsend, Hegazi, Ajayi, O'Shea, Sawyers, Livermore, Grosicki, Pereira, Diangana, Austin

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