It’s crunch time for Val and Baggies

THINGS are just not happening right now for West Brom and manager Valerien Ismael, are they? Yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Millwall, admittedly never an easy place to go, was another bitter pill for Baggies fans to swallow.

It put the seal on a dismal week. West Brom went down to a surprise 2-0 reverse against Preston on Wednesday night, surrendering their unbeaten home record in the process.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone missed that game due to an ‘internal issue’ and he was again absent yesterday.

The Baggies also had new striker Daryl Dike ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury, though the signing of former England striker Andy Carroll on a deal until the end of the season did provide a ray of hope.

Having been relegated from the Premier League last term, the Hawthorns outfit recruited Ismael, who had worked wonders to get unfancied Barnsley into the play-offs last term, to spearhead their bid to bounce back at the first time of asking.

But fifth place, with 45 points from 29 games, has been an underwhelming return and fans’ discontent with Ismael appears to be growing by the week.

It’s not just results that have earned the wrath of the supporters, it’s the direct style of play that Ismael employs.

If you’re not playing good football and not getting results as well, it’s a combination fraught with danger.

Ismael had hoped signing Dike would make a big difference to his misfiring forward line and has been unfortunate in that the striker who sparkled under him at Barnsley in the second half of last season has now been ruled out.

But he will know only too well that Albion need to improve fast, or the pressure on him will continue to grow. The Baggies have good players, so all is not lost – but they need to start performing to their maximum.