West Brom are looking well set to secure a place in the Championship play-offs this season.
Carlos Corberan‘s side currently sit 5th in the second-tier standings, with a game in hand on those around them.
That does put them in a strong position to secure the top six spot they need to get a shot at promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
However, they are some way adrift of the top four teams, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United and Southampton.
With only two sides winning automatic promotion, West Brom will of course likely have to face at least one of those sides if they make the play-offs this season.
There are though, seemingly some advantages the Baggies could take into those games in the circumstances.
Pressure off the Baggies in potential play-off clashes
Given how far ahead of the rest of the division they have been, any of those top four teams would be favourites in a play-off match against West Brom.
However, there is some belief that could put pressure on a potential opponent for Corberan’s side in those matches.
That may be particularly the case for Leeds United and Southampton. The pair were relegated from the Premier League last season, and it will be important for them to get back up quickly from a financial perspective.
Express and Star journalist Jonny Drury feels West Brom could exploit that in a play-off clash.
Speaking on the Baggies Broadcast podcast about the Baggies’ chances in the play-offs should they qualify, he said:
“If Albion go up against a Southampton or an Ipswich or a Leeds, they’re the favourites, the pressure’s on them. The pressure’s on Leeds and Southampton to go straight back up for the financial side of it.
“If you look at Southampton I think they took out an MSD loan when they were in the Premier League, at some point.
“So they’re going to have a high wage bill, they’re going to want to get back at the first opportunity. Because we’ve first-hand the fall out from that, if you don’t go up for two or three years.
“So I think they’ve probably got a good chance going in, not under the radar, but they are going to be the underdogs going into it.”
Before that, Corberan’s side are next in action when they travel to the John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield Town on Sunday afternoon.
West Brom must be confident in potential play-off campaign
There is no reason for the Baggies not to take some optimism into the play-offs, should they secure a top six finish.
Given how little they have spent in comparison to their rivals, West Brom will have done a remarkable job just to make it into the play-offs.
As a result, some may feel as though they will have exceeded expectations, simply by getting to that point.
That therefore, would mean they have nothing to lose in that situation, especially with what could be to come next season anyway after the takeover.
By contrast, there will be an expectation on those potential opponents for West Brom to win promotion, not least given what they have invested this season.
It is in those situations where pressure can start to build, which can lead to mistakes that the Baggies could be able to exploit.
If they reach these games, they will surely therefore have to give those teams no time at all on the ball, in the hope they can force those potentially decisive errors.
That could then open the door for an unexpected but welcome return of Premier League football at The Hawthorns.
With all that in mind, there is very little for West Brom to fear, if they do indeed qualify for the play-offs this season.