John Eustace offers his Verdict of West Brom ahead of their clash at St Andrew’s…

According to John Eustace, West Brom possesses a squad that is on par with playoff-caliber teams, making them a formidable opponent for Birmingham City.

The Blues manager commended Carlos Corberan’s team as they prepare to face each other in the Championship match scheduled for Friday (October 6), as reported in The Mirror’s print edition (October 6, page 54).

Interestingly, despite being seven positions higher in the standings, West Brom is only one point ahead of Birmingham City before their upcoming showdown.

Eustace remarked, “West Brom boasts a squad and starting lineup that are among the top six in the league. We’ll need to be at our best to compete.”

The Championship currently appears quite competitive, with West Brom sitting in fifth place and Millwall in 14th, separated by just two points. Birmingham’s 15-point tally provides them with a slight edge over some of their competitors. However, given their mixed results this season, securing a significant victory against West Brom is a priority.

Eustace also pointed out that Corberan’s team could pose a significant challenge. With four clean sheets in their last five Championship matches, players like Cedric Kipre and Kyle Bartley have maintained a high defensive standard.

In terms of offense, West Brom has demonstrated its potency, as evidenced by their 4-0 win against Preston, showcasing their ability to perform when required. John Swift has emerged as their primary offensive threat, having already scored five goals this season.

Corberan may have been disappointed with his team’s 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, considering their offensive dominance, with 17 shots compared to Wednesday’s four. However, West Brom can expect a tougher defensive challenge at St Andrew’s.

The absence of Jeremy Sarmiento, who sustained an injury against Sheffield Wednesday, could be a significant setback for Corberan’s side. The club confirmed on October 4 that the Brighton loanee might be sidelined for up to four weeks with a muscle injury.

Corberan’s team will need to leverage their high-quality squad, which Eustace referred to as ‘top-six’ caliber, to secure a convincing away win and solidify their position in the playoff race.