West Brom briefing: Baggies braced for major step up as Norwich await | OneFootball

West Brom eased past Rotherham 4-1 in the Carabao Cup, yet their league opener at Norwich promises a far sterner measure.

ExpressAndStar.com points out that pre-season can mislead and even a convincing cup win warrants cautious reading.

Norwich also won 4-1, against MK Dons of League One, but both teams know Saturday at Carrow Road is a significant step up. James Morrison and opposite number Philippe Clement might have preferred a more traditional build-up, and Morrison views the opener as a journey into the unknown.

A full Carrow Road will be a different test to a sparsely filled New York Stadium, where Albion’s travelling support outnumbered the home crowd.

Morrison expects his players to suffer more without the ball than at any point so far. A late lapse that allowed Rotherham a consolation irritated staff and squad alike. Albion had more than 70 per cent possession there, but they are likely to see far less against the Canaries and have not yet faced sustained pressure.

A behind-closed-doors run-out with Coventry City may help, and Morrison has made training notably demanding to build resilience, saying he relishes pushing the group.

After Norwich there will still be 45 Championship matches to navigate, but Saturday should reveal far more about where the Baggies truly are.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

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