Lewis Cox analysis: Buckle up for rollercoaster of a season at Hawthorns
It wasn’t perfect but yet another Albion home win under Carlos Corberan provided that much-needed injection of optimism into the season.
I wrote on Friday that matches at this time of the year – when business is clearly needed before the transfer deadline – leave clubs feeling in a bit of limbo.
But there is no doubt that results at this unusual stage of the season can be a platform for the campaign ahead – and Albion have now lost just once from four, with two wins, leaving them seventh. It goes without saying it is rosier than winless Middlesbrough down in 22nd.
Corberan’s phenomenal record at home since taking over last October appears to be rolling on.
Saturday’s thrilling yet unnecessarily nail-biting 4-2 success over Boro is a 13th win from 18 home games in all competitions, that includes three draws and just two defeats – one loss coming in his very first game against Sheffield United after just two days of training.
It really is fortress territory. Albion at The Hawthorns should always be a fortress in the Championship but that hasn’t always been the case in recent years. It very much is now.
Though two wins from two in the Black Country in this fledgling season have come with 3-2 and 4-2 scorelines. No shortage of entertainment value for the biggest number of season-ticket sales in 15 years.
There is an element of concern, no doubt, to go with the optimism. Five games in all competitions and a first clean sheet of the campaign hasn’t appeared close. That has to change, it is clear Albion will struggle to get near their top-seven aspirations conceding goals at this rate.
