A wasteful West Bromwich Albion: Battling relegation – despite second in the xG table

When West Bromwich Albion concluded their business in the summer transfer window, there was much optimism amongst the fan base of a promotion push under then manager Steve Bruce.

The Baggies had brought in two of the most creative players for goals and assists in the Championship last season with Jed Wallace and John Swift, and with the return of their injury-stricken striker Daryl Dike, it appeared West Brom would be having a dangerous attacking line for Championship standards.

Fast forward to present day, and Albion find themselves in serious danger of dropping in to the third tier of English football as the halfway point of the season closes in, but why is this the case?

It’s not for the lack of creating chances, with West Bromwich Albion staggeringly second in the division for Expected Goals, despite being 21st in the Championship.

The Throstles have an xG total of 1.85 per game, with only Sheffield United having a higher value, with the Blades top of the division.

Other sides such as Burnley, Norwich and Millwall all have lower xG rates than Albion yet find themselves in the top six of the table.

Blackburn Rovers surprisingly have the lowest xG in the whole of the Championship, yet sit third in the league, so where has it all gone so wrong?

Joseph Chapman is the West Bromwich Albion correspondent for the Birmingham Mail and believes the lack of a recognised striker has contributed to the problems.

Chapman said: “I think with Jed Wallace and John Swift being two of the most proactive players in the Championship in recent seasons, inevitably, they were always going to create chances to score, but the problem for Albion for large parts of the season has been a loss of form to Karlan Grant and the injury to Daryl Dike so they haven’t had a natural striker to rely on.

“Albion have really missed an obvious number nine because the quality of chances can’t be questioned which has been pointed out by the xG table.”

39-year-old Carlos Corberan replaced Steve Bruce in late October and has been having an instant impact with three wins from his first four games in charge at the club.

As West Brom prepare to travel to Sunderland after a four-week break due to the 2022 World Cup, there is still caution around the prospect of relegation despite the positive form, but Joseph Chapman believes the confidence instilled into the squad by Corberan will see them move in the right direction.

Chapman added: “I’d certainly like to think fortunes will change after the sample size we’ve been able to witness in the early stages of his time at the club, Albion have unquestionably got one of the most talented squads on paper in the division, and from front to back they’ve looked a lot better under Corberan, they look fitter, everyone seems to know what they’re doing and there’s been a huge injection of confidence, and that confidence will only breed with more positive results and see them rise up the table away from danger.”