Comment: Supporters feeling the side effects of West Brom success

This week, another Baggies game has been picked for live television coverage, which means 10 of the club’s first 21 league outings this season will be on the box.

Compare that to last season, when just nine of their Premier League matches were shown live on TV and the difference in startling.

Considering there have been 48 goals in Albion’s first 12 Championship games, Sky Sports are understandably salivating at the prospect of showing England’s deadliest team (that can’t keep a clean sheet).

The Baggies are relatively powerless to this. An EFL spokesman confirmed: “Sky are entitled to select any EFL match for live transmission and where it does clubs are obliged to facilitate this.”

The only instance when they can say no is if the game is selected within five weeks of it being played.

But with four of the next five home games being shown live on television, the constant changing of fixtures is starting to rankle with supporters.

The Baggies will not play any 3pm Saturday kick-offs at The Hawthorns for almost two months between Saturday, October 27, and Boxing Day.

The latest pick for Sky coverage has also cut short their preparation time for a crucial game with Villa – the club’s first proper derby for nearly three years.

That match had already been brought forward to Friday, December 7, presumably after West Midlands Police had given the green light.

But then Albion’s home game against Brentford scheduled for the weekend before was moved back to Monday, December 3. Both will be on TV.

Darren Moore will have just three days in between those games, whereas Villa have an extra two to prepare after their Saturday tea-time kick-off with Middlesbrough.

The TV schedule has been kind to Moore before this season. Albion were given an extra day to prepare for the Bristol City game for example.

In fact, there is a feeling among Albion's coaching staff that moving the Brentford game back could actually benefit them, because the week before they have a long trip to Swansea City on a Wednesday night.

But it’s not been kind to the fans. A Friday night trip to Birmingham isn’t too taxing, but heading up to Middlesbrough on the Friday of a Bank Holiday weekend? That was tough and the traffic caught many out.

Next month, few will be able to make the long journey to Ipswich Town on a Friday night.

There will be those of course, who benefit from the Baggies being on TV, supporters unable to attend games in person for whatever reason.

But if last Friday's soulless goalless draw between England and Croatia behind closed doors taught us anything, it's that supporters inside the stadium matter.

In the Premier League, fans may begrudgingly accept the economical benefits of being shown on television.

Each club gets a minimum of £12.3million for being shown on television in the top tier plus an extra £1.13m for each game beyond the first 10.

But in the Championship, the home club is only given £100,000 when it is picked for live coverage, although they receive £120,000 for a Sunday match and £140,000 for a Thursday game. The away club gets a paltry £10,000 each time.

It’s £20 for an adult ticket at The Hawthorns this season, so it will be interesting to see how big a dent the attendance takes for that Brentford game.

If it’s 5,000 fewer than a 3pm Saturday kick-off, Albion will be out of pocket.

More important than that though are the fans who are out of pocket, those season ticket holders who travel from all over the country who are unable to get to games on Mondays or Fridays because of work.

Three of the next five home games are in the week.

Season tickets are providing good value for money this season, with it currently costing £3.18 per goal for those with seats in the Smethwick and Birmingham Road Ends.

But if fans can’t get to the games, they’re worthless. And watching all those goals go in from your sofa isn’t the same as being in the ground.

Statement from Football Supporters’ Federation:

“Following your football club isn’t always easy, and West Brom fans are learning first-hand how much harder broadcasters can make it.

“The Baggies’ experience shows that it’s an issue for the whole of football not just the Premier League - football clubs and broadcasters should be doing more to ensure their impact on match-going fans is minimised.”

Statement from EFL on 'five week commitment':

"As with 2017/18, the EFL and broadcast partner Sky Sports have again committed to give clubs and supporters at least five weeks’ notice ahead of any EFL League matches being selected for live television coverage.

"In a small change to the policy from 2017/18, the EFL has outlined the dates when any changes will be announced to the public via the EFL’s digital and social channels, rather than the dates when clubs will be initially notified.

"The dates will again ensure any fixture changes are announced with a minimum of five weeks’ notice of the fixture taking place in order to give EFL supporters as much time as is possible to allow for any alterations to travel plans that may be required.

"In addition, an amendment to this policy was made in March 2018, whereby a minimum of three weeks’ notice was put in place for the penultimate weekend of the season in order to ensure the most appropriate matches are picked for broadcast."