West Bromwich Albion go into Fridays nights derby fixture at Birmingham City in good form that has seen them sneak under the radar and climb into the Championship play-off places.
With Leicester City and Ipswich Town swapping places at the top of the table, seemingly every time they play a game, the spotlight has fallen away from other teams near the top. Preston North End and Sunderland have taken some by surprise as they occupy the next two spots, but it is the Hawthorns side that have climbed up into fifth without much of a fanfare.
Two wins in the past week, one a 4-0 beat down of Preston, have come off the back of three draws. In their five game unbeaten run they have kept four clean sheets. Carlos Corberan is the man behind this revival and is ensuring everyone in and around the club knows the importance of the game against close city rivals.
βA local derby to me personally is no different than any other game because I respect my club every single time we are out on the football pitch. If I was to respect my club more in the days of the derbies, it would mean that I donβt respect my club how I should respect them. Itβs great to play in a good atmosphere and that is what we are expecting on Friday.β the manager told the club’s official website.
This is the 136th game between the two Midlands sides and with a 60-38 win record, it is the Baggies who hold the upper hand, but it is the home side in this encounter who have the edge having won the last three meetings.
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— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) October 6, 2023
βFor me, the stadium could have 20,000 Birmingham fans but my focus will be on the 2,000 West Bromwich Albion fans and I want them to be proud. We represent them and so many more who wonβt be at the game. I love football games and I love games which have emotion in the back of them. Every game for me has a lot of emotion in it and thatβs why I personally donβt feel a lot of difference.β
Bragging Rights
With local bragging rights at stake, it is not just the players that have to play up to the occasion. A derby game gives an opportunity for fans to have one over the other for at least until they meet again.
βFor our fans who live in the area and have Birmingham fans close by, these games are always special. We need to keep these traditions in football. Itβs so important to know how special these games are for our fans. Itβs important to go to the stadium knowing this. I like to remind the players how important these games are. I have shown the players videos of Albion supporters through the ages because I want them to know what it means to represent West Bromwich Albion Football Club.β
The Baggies form may be good, but come derby day it does go out the window a little, as emotions run high.
βThe last two results have been excellent and the two performances have been good in general too. Form is just what has happened in the past. One positive result one week does not guarantee a positive result in the next one. Thatβs something which I have told my players. Every game is different and we have to give our best each time we are on the pitch.β
Writer’s View
This will be a highly charged game of football. It always is. One of the most underrated derby games on the football calendar, but no less significant for all involved, Birmingham come into this game off the back of a 4-1 win against Huddersfield Town and will want to recover some of their own lost good form from the start of the season.
Corberan will need to get his team up for it from the off and be on the front foot, or it could be a long night, but at least the trip home is short.
