West Brom are one of several teams eyeing an automatic promotion slot to the Premier League ahead of next season. At least five teams are in the hunt for those automatic promotion slots in the English Championship. The first two teams in the Championship at the end of this season are guaranteed a place in the Premier League next season while the teams from third to sixth will need the play-off to decide the third and final team for promotion as far as Premier League football is concerned.
Apart from West Brom, the likes of Fulham, league leaders Bournemouth, Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers (QPR).
West Brom have suffered a lean spell in the Championship at a wrong time when the race for the automatic promotion spots is heating up. The Baggies are winless in their last three games ahead of the crucial league meeting with QPR away from home this weekend. The two teams are in the race toget Premier League football and they meet in a game scheduled to take place at Loftus Road on Saturday.
The Baggies could be boosted by the addition of USA international Daryl Dike to their squad after he signed from MLS club Orlando City at the start of the month. He has yet to feature for his new team due to fitness issues having played his last game on November 24. He’s expected to at least make the bench for the game against the West London team later this week.
Dike has Championship experience having played for Barnsley in the second half of last season. He scored nine goals in 19 games for Barnsley while on loan from Orlando City.
Ahead of the game, West Brom and QPR are separated on the table by one point and one place. West Brom have 42 points from 25 games, while QPR have 41 points from 24 games.