How West Brom players feel heading into ‘biggest week of the season’ as Jed Wallace reveals player ‘frustration’

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West Brom head into the game with Bristol City tonight knowing how vital three points could be in the race for promotion from the Championship.

Both sides are part of the play-off picture and face huge games in the run-in to come, but this is yet another one for the Baggies. They faced Sunderland at The Hawthorns over the weekend and lost 1-0 to a Trai Hume free-kick.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
4	SunderlandSunderland	40	21	12	7	57	37	20	75
5	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	40	17	9	14	61	49	12	60
6	Bristol CityBristol City	40	15	15	10	51	43	8	60
7	CoventryCoventry	40	17	8	15	57	53	4	59
8	West BromWest Brom	40	13	18	9	48	36	12	57
9	MillwallMillwall	40	14	12	14	39	41	-2	54
10	WatfordWatford	40	15	8	17	48	53	-5	53
11	NorwichNorwich	40	13	13	14	62	56	6	52

They are now perhaps considered the outsiders for a top six berth, in spite of the fact they have spent 31 out of 40 matchdays inside the top six this term. Tony Mowbray’s side face the Robins and Coventry City still in the final six games, knowing that they will be crucial in shaping the play-off landscape.

Jed Wallace has been speaking about the goalkeeper situation, while Adam Armstrong has called on West Brom and the other play-off sides to avoid making particular mistakes in the final games. It is likely to go to wire for most sides involved in the race and West Brom must keep pace until matchday 45.

• READ MORE: Championship play-off dates, fixtures, and teams in Premier League promotion mix

Jed Wallace outlines the importance of the next weeks for West Brom

The Baggies may yet have to overcome a dismal play-off record should they sneak in by May 4th. Speaking via BBC Sport’s Football Daily 72+: The EFL Podcast Jed Wallace has also explained how huge the current run of games is for West Brom, with Bristol City tonight the next on the list of teams to tick off.

He was asked: “No stock answers on this: what’s it like inside camp at West Brom, what are you guys talking about with regards to the play-off, and the race, because it’s very tight.”

He said: “It’s so frustrating when you look at the table. We’ve got 18 draws — you can’t get away from that.

“You turn three or four of those draws or conceding late goals into wins — and I know every team can say it — but to have 18 draws and only win 13 games for us is a huge frustration.

“We’ve been really hard to beat. That tells its own story, but Norwich was the story of our season, especially away from home. We look in control of a game and then Norwich go down the other end — one ball straight through us and they score.

“It’s been so frustrating for us, I have to keep being honest. It’s still in our hands [speaking before Sunderland defeat. We still have to play teams around us, so we know that if we can get four or five wins — we can get where we want to be.

“I always say 74 points to give yourself a chance of Premier League football. I don’t think you’ll need that many this year; it’s probably going to be 70 this year.

“We have a massive week coming up: Sunderland, Bristol City, and Watford. So, we have a huge week in the Championship and probably the biggest week of the season.

After losing to Sunderland, West Brom now have added pressure to get results away from home. The Baggies haven’t won on the road in the Championship since early November, with the next two games away from home being Bristol City and Coventry.

Speaking of this season’s away form, he said: “Honestly, I think it suits us more, I don’t know what’s up with us. Look this season: drawn to Luton, lost to Derby away, lost to Plymouth away, drew with Swansea away.

“We’re unbeaten against anyone in the top six away. I think sometimes those more pure games of football, technically they can suit us more with the players that have been playing.

“It’s just so frustrating because, within that run, we’ve gone to Leeds and Burnley — two of the toughest away games all season. And, in my opinion, been the better team in both games and come away not winning the game.

“It’s frustrating, those two games are going to be massive for us. We know how unpredictable the Championship is, especially at this stage of the season.

“When you look at our last three games, you have Derby, Cardiff, and Luton — who are obviously going to be fighting for their lives, so I’m sure there will be many twists and turns.

“But I’ll be in a rush to get back and help out as much as I can.”

• READ MORE: West Brom and Bristol City earn places but Coventry City miss out as EFL experts make Championship play-off prediction

West Brom captain Jed Wallace has had a frustrating season in the Championship

West Brom’s January transfer window was ambitious and gave them extra depth for a required edge at the business end of the season. It has perhaps not transpired as they envisaged, but few teams have the attacking talent to rival West Brom’s now.

Unfortunately, injuries and the competition for places has seen Wallace’s influence wane. The 31-year-old is not the player he once was at Millwall, although his experience and know-how may now be invaluable during the run-in and in crunch games and head-to-head matches.

Wallace has played 344 Championship matches in his career, scoring or assisting 104 goals (50G, 54A) in that time. This season, he has just two of those from 27 appearances. He is one of the most experienced players in any position in the division, but his on-pitch influence is certainly on the decline.