West Brom v Birmingham preview: Managerial decision riding on derby-day clash

A convincing performance will secure James Shan’s place in charge of the Baggies until the end of the season.

An inadequate one will force the board into a rethink and heap pressure on them to deliver a better alternative.

To be in such a state of flux is odd, but perhaps having so much riding on one fixture is good preparation for the play-offs.

If Shan delivers under this sort of pressure, it will give the board confidence in his abilities to take the club forward.

After two weeks of uninterrupted work on the training ground, tonight’s game will give the best indication so far of his ideas for the team.

Matt Phillips is the only known injury concern, and has been ruled out with his ankle tendon problem, but Shan will still be able to pick a close version to his starting XI.

It is an odd coincidence that such a decisive game, and the biggest of his career, takes place against Birmingham City.

Although Shan is a Liverpool fan, he grew up watching football at St Andrew’s and his mum Jacqui used to travel home and away with Blues.

But all the Shan clan will be cheering on the Baggies this time around, as he bids for a longer stay in the hot seat.

In his first two games, the 40-year-old reinstated Chris Brunt into midfield.

There may be a lot riding on this game, but Albion’s club captain reckons the pressure is off the players.

“Everyone’s on a bit of a high at the minute,” Brunt told Radio 5 Live this week. “The pressure’s off a little bit, we’ve got a good gap between us and seventh place and a bit of a gap between us and the top two.

“Hopefully we can go quietly on a bit of a run for the rest of the season and there’s a few slip ups ahead of us.

“The training’s been good, the lads have been responding well. Two positive results makes a massive difference around the place.”

Brunt has been more than willing to help Shan over the past three weeks.

“It’s important for him to have a few experienced players to bounce things off,” said Brunt. “As a player you’re used to being told where to go, what to do, you fall into line with whoever is giving you instructions.

“If Jimmy needs me in any shape or form I’ll be there. He’s pulled a few of us into the office to ask us bits and pieces – to be fair Darren (Moore) did it as well at the back end of last season.

“You help any way you can because at the end of the day, us winning matches and trying to get back to the Premier League benefits everyone.”

If Shan wins this game, he will equal the longest winning streak of the season under Darren Moore.

Consistency has been one of Albion’s problems this season, but if the caretaker can deliver that with a return to a more pragmatic style, then the job is his until the summer.

Likely line up

West Brom (4-5-1): Johnstone; Holgate, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Edwards, Morrison, Brunt, Livermore, Rodriguez; Gayle.

Subs: Bond, Bartley, Townsend, Barry, Harper, Murphy, Montero

The opposition – Nine points docked and four defeats in a row

Everyone at Birmingham City knew it was coming, and having been braced for a 12-point deduction, there was an element of relief when the EFL only docked nine.

Despite that, the decision has still dragged Garry Monk’s team away from the play-off picture and into a relegation fight.

They are now five points above the bottom three, and even though it’s been an impressive season under Monk, Blues are currently in a huge slump in form.

They’ve suffered four defeats in a row and failed to score in any of those games.

In fact, it’s been more than 400 minutes of football since they found the net.

That’s a startling statistic considering earlier in the season, it could’ve been argued Birmingham had one of the best strike partnerships in the division.

Che Adams has 21 goals this season and was recently named in the Championship team of the year, as voted for by the managers.

Lukas Jutkiewicz has reached double figures in both goals and assists, and has been the perfect foil for Adams at times.

But Jutkiewicz hasn’t scored in any of the last 20 league games and Adams hasn’t netted in the last five.

Birmingham’s fixture list makes for even more worrying reading.

After tonight’s trip to The Hawthorns, they host Leeds and Sheffield United. That five-point gap could not be so secure after all.

There’s still plenty going in their favour though.

Firstly, they can take inspiration from the reverse fixture between these two sides at St Andrew’s.

Even though Albion might be slightly more pragmatic under James Shan than they were under Darren Moore, Blues outplayed the Baggies back in September and should have won.

Were it not for Sam Johnstone saving a penalty, they probably would have done.

Then there’s the international break, which will have given their threadbare squad a much-needed rest.

Monk’s men looked like they were running out of gas before this fortnight off, but they could be a different prospect after a chance to recharge their batteries.

Isaac Vassell has also recently returned from injury and could inject a bit of pace into the attack.

And finally, there’s the points deduction that was previously hanging over them.

Now the EFL have confirmed the punishment, Birmingham have some clarity, they know what they have to do.

Monk’s team have been well-drilled this season and should have enough quality in the dugout and on the pitch to stay up.

But stopping the rot at The Hawthorns will be deemed a bonus.

Right-back Maxime Colin remains a doubt with a hamstring injury, which means Wes Harding will likely play.

Birmingham's dangerman - Che Adams

There were no Albion players in the EFL’s official Championship team of the season, but Birmingham’s 22-year-old striker with 21 goals to his name made it.

Although he’s not scored in five games, the former Ilkeston Town player is lethal in front of goal. He will be a handful for messrs Dawson and Hegazi.

Albion's key man - Dwight Gayle

The Newcastle loanee is going through a rare barren patch. He's not scored in his last six games, which is a drought by his standards, particularly in the Championship.

But now he’s being played centrally, he’s got every chance of rediscovering his shooting boots. Still Albion's most predatory forward.

Memory Lane

In 2010, Albion came from 1-0 down to beat Blues thanks to three goals in 18 minutes through a Scott Dann own goal, Peter Odemwingie and Jonas Olsson.

What the boss says

"With the points deduction they’re now away from the play-offs and close to the wrong end. They’ll have fight and a siege mentality. It’ll be a tough game."