Carlos Corberan still confident West Brom can secure play-off place

Posted Thursday, March 16, 2023 by PA

Carlos Corberan says he remains encouraged by West Brom’s promotion prospects despite his side dropping points in a 1-1 draw at lowly Cardiff.

Albion lost ground on Sky Bet Championship play-off rivals Luton and Blackburn – who both won at home – after Daryl Dike’s first-half volley was cancelled out by Cardiff substitute Sory Kaba.

West Brom are now five points adrift of sixth-placed Millwall, who fill the final play-off spot, with nine games of the season remaining.

Boss Corberan said: “I can tell you I am positive (about the play-offs) because of the dressing room I walked into after the game.

“The players have a very uncomfortable feeling with the points we dropped because they want more.

“In football in the last part of the season determination is the key.

“The next time the players put the West Bromwich shirt on we must have this feeling that we did not get the three points. I want them to remember that feeling.

“The next nine games we need to play and compete as if it was nine finals.”

Albion were second from bottom after 16 games when Corberan took charge at the end of October.

He said: “I like to make the valuation of the season at the end.

“We know where we arrived from and what the situation was, but at the same time I know West Bromwich and how big this club is and how ambitious we need to be.

“We are going to try and win every single one because that has to be the commitment. But it feels like we did not achieve the target we had here.”

Cardiff boss Sabri Lamouchi admitted he was content with a draw that left them four points above Blackpool in the final relegation place.

Lamouchi said: “To be honest I would have settled before the game for a point.

“Even though we played so well in the second half we came back for the first time, the first draw for me here.

“It’s an important point for us, especially against a good team. They are playing for a different target, probably the play-off, but we never gave up and that is a positive.”

Kaba’s equaliser was his third goal since his deadline-day move from Danish club Midtjylland in January.

Lamouchi said: “He’s doing well, he’s scoring important goals for us and he’s doing his job.

“The plan I wanted was to disturb West Brom, but they changed the system. We didn’t do well in the first half, that’s why I changed in the break.”