West Brom boss Valerian Ismael desperate for a win after abject midweek loss

Albion’s performance against Preston North End on Wednesday night was so abject it had to be seen to be believed.

A complete lack of passion or desire ensured the players failed to do the very basics.

And you couldn’t help but come away from The Hawthorns wondering whether they had downed tools for the Frenchman.

That may, in part, be to a falling out Ismael had with goalkeeper Sam Johnstone before the game.

The spat – described as an ‘internal issue’ by the boss – means the England international also won’t feature at Millwall tomorrow.

But the overall performance against PNE means the overwhelming majority of Albion fans have now had enough of Ismael and his tactical inflexibility.

It feels like an incredibly long road back for the former Bayern Munich defender – with social media awash with rumours yesterday he was about to lose his job.

As things stand, though, Ismael is still in post. What’s for certain, though, is that Albion will lose at The Den if their performance is anything like the one they put in on Wednesday.

Supporters know by now Ismael is never going to deviate from his 3-4-3 formation.

But it’s going to be fascinating to see which players he includes in his starting XI as he looks to salvage his Albion career, even if he doesn’t have a squad big enough to make drastic changes.

We know Button will continue in goal.

But who will take their place in the back three is harder to predict.

Matt Clarke was somewhat surprisingly left on the bench against Preston.

He will probably return with Kyle Bartley likely to keep his place.

But Cedric Kipre was desperately poor on Wednesday and was promptly subbed at half-time.

That display could lead to Darnell Furlong coming into the back three in a move that would allow Taylor Gardner-Hickman to start at right wing-back.

Or Semi Ajayi could return to the side having now returned from the African Cup of Nations.

It feels like it’s a toss up between Conor Townsend and Adam Reach at left wing-back – with Townsend having struggled for form in recent weeks.

A lack of options means Jake Livermore and Alex Mowatt will surely continue as the midfield two.

But it will be interesting to see what the boss does up front.

It’s not been shown on numerous occasions that playing Callum Robinson or Matt Phillips as a central striker just doesn’t work.

Ismael, of course, has been hugely unlucky that new recruit Daryl Dike has picked up an injury that will keep him out for eight weeks.

But Albion’s woes up top have led to a genuine case for Jordan Hugill to be brought back in from the cold – even if the Norwich loanee has struggled this term.

Whoever the boss picks, though, for him it feels as though only a win will do.