West Brom slipped into the Championship relegation places after a 0-0 draw with Luton Town on Saturday but it seems as if Baggies fans will have to wait a while longer before Steve Bruce is sacked.
What’s the word?
Despite just one win in the second tier this season, Bruce seemingly has the backing of Steve Gourlay, with pre-season hopes of a promotion push a distant memory for the Baggies.
Alan Nixon provided the latest on his position as manager at the Hawthorns following Saturday’s stalemate, writing in The Sun:
“Steve Bruce looks like he is staying in charge of the Baggies for now and has the backing of chief executive Ron Gourlay.”
Gourlay must act now
In 32 matches in charge of West Brom, Bruce has won just eight games, drawing 12 and losing 12, which has earned him an extremely disappointing points per game average of 1.13.
When the 61-year-old took charge of the Baggies, they were fifth in the Championship, which was enough to see Valerian Ismael sacked by Gourlay.
Is Bruce West Brom’s worst ever manager?
Bruce was brought in with the aim of getting the Baggies promoted in his first season but they would finish tenth in the second tier, so the fact that he is still in charge eight months later having made West Brom significantly worse than they were under Ismael, is baffling.
Eye-catching summer additions such as John Swift and Jed Wallace looked as if they would steer the Baggies back towards the top of the Championship but this season has been a complete disaster so far.
While Bruce can’t take all of the blame, as the expected goals statistics suggest that West Brom should be much better off, it still isn’t good enough and the results show no sign of improving under Bruce.
Indeed, Albion are now on a run without a win since the back end of August, with nine matches passing since their last three points.
Nixon suggests that Gourlay still has faith in the 61-year-old but if West Brom are to have any chance of recovering this season, then he must be sacked as soon as possible.
