CORB WANTS BAGGIES ON CLOUD NINE

WEST BROM 0 SUNDERLAND 1

WEST BROM boss Carlos Corberan has challenged his side to win all three of their remaining league games... even though they do not need nine points.

Albion’s bid to secure a play-off spot stumbled after this surprise defeat to Sunderland. However, one victory is likely to seal a top-six place, two will guarantee it.

But Corberan (above) wants three wins even though the Baggies’ next game is a tough one away at Leicester on Saturday.

The Spaniard said: “We need to get more points. It is simple because you can talk about mathematics when everyone has played the same number of games.

“We know we are in the race for the play-offs and I’m very pleased to see my club fighting in this race.

“Special things in life are never easy. There are 24 teams fighting for promotion and only three achieve it. In the Championship, many teams pay millions for this.

“So if, at the last game, we are fighting still I will be pleased – especially if we achieve. Maybe we need six points. We will need to go for three points in every game.

“Hopefully, we will get nine points. Our target has to be nine now. Let’s see if we achieve that.

“Leicester are a top team, I watched them against Plymouth and you can’t understand why they didn’t win. So we need to be at our best.”

The Baggies will certainly need to improve on a poor performance against Sunderland.

Brandon Thomas-Asante was the villain after a 43rd-minute sending off for a second booking after fouling Dan Ballard.

The Black Cats took full advantage with a goal in first-half stoppage-time for Pierre Ekwah.

Ballard was a pantomime villain, celebrating wildly at the end after being booed throughout, with West Brom fans not forgetting his role in an injury to Josh Maja back in December.

The centre back said: “When you get that much stick, you want to prove a point and rise above it.

“I just tried to keep a cool head. The stick added a bit of energy to me at the final whistle.”