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Having recorded just two wins before the start of November, it was felt that any chances of a West Brom promotion bid were already over, but the Baggies have shown under Carlos Corberan that the previous perception may not have been accurate.
After two victories in 17, West Brom have since posted four triumphs in succession, the latest coming on Monday night as they overcame a deficit to beat Sunderland by a 2-1 scoreline at the Stadium of Light.
While the West Midlands outfit have only netted six times during that quartet of fixtures, Corberan will be delighted that his squad have already proven their character to get over the line in hotly-contested matches.
Still just two points above the relegation zone, there is no room for complacency, but West Brom will feel that making up the eight-point gap to the playoffs is comfortably within their range, particularly when they still possess a game in hand.
Monday’s win came courtesy of Daryl Dike‘s impact from the substitutes’ bench, the injury-stricken USA international providing a goal and an assist to show supporters what they have been missing during the first half of the season
The win at the Stadium of Light came after Corberan had made four changes before West Brom’s first goal, and Tom Rogic should be rewarded for his impact with a start in this game.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Martin Kelly will also be considered, but Dike will remain among the replacements as Corberan continues to manage his minutes.
Kyle Bartley and Semi Ajayi are both battling to return to the squad after injuries picked up in the lead-up to the Sunderland game.
Taylor will also consider making alterations to his Rotherham XI with Jamie McCart potentially being brought in for his first start of the season in the back three.
Conor Washington and Georgie Kelly are each pushing for an opportunity in the final third, which would allow Ben Wiles to drop back into a deeper position.
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, O’Shea, Pieters, Townsend; Rogic, Yokoslu; Wallace, Swift, Phillips; Thomas-Asante
Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Peltier, McCart, Harding; Norton-Cuffy, Wiles, Barlaser, Rathbone, Bramall; Washington, Ogbene
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
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“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life