West Brom must be in top eight by World Cup - Ally Robertson
Albion legend Ally Robertson believes Steve Bruce must aim for the Championship’s top eight by the World Cup break.
The Baggies, down in 21st in the second tier, resume their league campaign following a two-week international break at home to Swansea tomorrow.
There are 10 fixtures across six weeks until football in the top two division pauses for the World Cup in Qatar.
Bruce is under pressure to deliver an improve run of results beginning tomorrow to lift Albion, who are three points from 11th, clear of the mire.
“His aim right now will be to get into the top eight,” said Robertson. “Top six would be incredible, if we could win eight games or something like that.
“But if we can get from where we are now into the top half by the break then that would be fantastic.”
“I still think Brucie’s the manager,” added the former defender. “As long as we can get a couple of wins together then everything changes. It’s the same as Southgate, two years ago he was the best manager England have had, now it’s ‘you should get rid of him’.
“That is football, in football it’s your last five, six or seven games. Forget whatever went before, it’s your last games for how good your manager is.”
Albion managed just a single victory from their opening 10 league games leaving them outside the drop zone only on goal difference and sections of supporters calling for change.
It is understood the club viewed the next handful of fixtures after the international break as crucial for the manager to turn around the club’s fortunes. Albion host Swansea before a midweek trip to Preston on Wednesday and a home game with Luton on Saturday week.
