Lewis Cox discusses Carlos Corberan's pre-match press conference as Albion prepare to take on Burnley on Thursday evening.
Despite sitting sixth in the Championship, Albion are now seven games without a win and have drawn on their last five outings.
Lewis discusses what Corberan had to say about the recent run and brings the latest injury update ahead of the game.
Despite sitting sixth in the Championship, Albion are now seven games without a win and have drawn on their last five outings.
Lewis discusses what Corberan had to say about the recent run and brings the latest injury update ahead of the game.
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00:00We've just spoke with Carlos Corban here at Albion's training ground ahead of Thursday night's home clash against Burnley in the Championship as Albion look to put to an end a winless run.
00:11The injury defensive woes keep coming for Albion's Spanish head coach Gianluca Frabata is the latest with a little question mark next to his name.
00:20The Italian left-back who, let's be honest, has been scarcely used this season, rarely seen really since checking in from Juventus of course in the summer.
00:28Had to bide his time, hasn't he? Had to wait. As I say, he's yet to start in the league certainly.
00:34He's not trained today, he's felt a groin issue. Obviously we know Albion are shorter bodies at the back, aren't they?
00:41Callum Styles, another summer signing, has had to play left-back the last two games, started for the first time at Luton on Friday night.
00:48I think, considering he's not a natural left-back, Styles did well by and large.
00:54Carlos Cobran hopes there's more to come from Styles but when it comes to Frabata, yeah, a blow.
00:59I think a surprise overall that we haven't seen him yet full-stop really.
01:03I think we thought at some point once he'd settle, adjust to maybe the culture and Championship football and all that, he might go on to become a regular.
01:11Perhaps with the defensive injuries, as we know they already are, the centre-backs out that have forced Higgum into the middle, perhaps we thought this might be Frabata's time.
01:20The good news is Carlos Cobran is hopeful that the little groin issue is not serious for the Italian and that he might be able to train tomorrow ahead of Burnley.
01:31All being well and that that will settle and Albion won't have a further problem on to this growing defensive crisis.
01:37He did hint, Cobran, that if Frabata isn't OK tomorrow, there are no senior options in defence for the bench.
01:46Clearly a big concern and he said that we'll have to find a solution in the academy, in the under-21s.
01:51So he'd be primed for that. That could happen.
01:54And obviously it's a stern test, isn't it, at the Hawthorns on Thursday?
01:58Burnley, the Clarets coming down, they're not on the best run of form.
02:02Their form isn't quite as bad as Albion's, it must be said.
02:05But they did lose, didn't they, on Sunday against Millwall 1-0.
02:08A day less to prepare as well, playing Sunday.
02:10Sorry, two days less to prepare.
02:12Albion obviously played Friday night.
02:14Burnley, as I say, played Sunday.
02:16Before that, I think they'd drawn a couple.
02:18So, yeah, they are fourth.
02:20Not sure how much that says, given Albion a win in seven and six.
02:24You know, this table doesn't seem like many of the top sides are pulling ahead, really, of other clubs, despite the form.
02:32Cobran, though, quite clear, I think, on how he rates Scott Parker's side this season.
02:37He told me at today's press conference that he sees the Championship this season as basically three clubs with three squads, a level above the rest.
02:45And he named Leeds, he named Sheffield United, and he named Burnley.
02:49Two relegated clubs there.
02:51Obviously, Luton are the other ones that are struggling down the other end of the table.
02:55Two relegated clubs from the Premier League and Leeds, of course, who missed out by the narrowest of margins.
03:00So he does see those three clubs as those at the top.
03:04Obviously, Sunderland are fighting against that so far, aren't they?
03:08Leading the way, and credit to them, can they go on and do an Ipswich?
03:10We'll have to wait to see.
03:11But, yeah, Cobran sees those three squads, perhaps, as the ones with the real riches to really challenge the top spots this season.
03:19And he said, look, there are 14 other clubs, and he included Albion within that.
03:25With good squads, with, you know, strengths, real strengths, with areas that aren't so strong, but that can challenge other positions.
03:33So, Albion have to look at the bottom line.
03:35They need to get back to winning ways, don't they?
03:37As we know, it's seven games without a win.
03:40Now, five draws in a row, which is pretty unprecedented, really, isn't it?
03:43You have to go back 25 years to late 1999, the last time Albion went five games with a draw, actually.
03:50And it was actually seven back then, if you include extra time of a League Cup game, which I'm not sure if that officially counts as a draw.
03:57So, certainly six in seven, but you could argue seven after 90 minutes.
04:03Look, they're not being beaten, Albion still.
04:05They're still retaining that core brand, defensive solidity, hard to break down, hard to beat, not losing games, which is good and will help the turnaround when it comes.
04:13However, draws don't get you anywhere very quickly, do they?
04:18Especially, you know, in a row like that, five on a row, six in a row, seven.
04:22You don't really climb to the places you want to be with those.
04:24So, it's clear, it's very clear that the attacking department is where things need to be fixed, solved, where players need to step up, come to light.
04:31Start delivering, start being more creative in terms of laying on chances, goals.
04:38Individual errors, you would say, have been costly.
04:41Luton last weekend, last Friday night, sorry, Alex Moher obviously gives that pass away.
04:45Luton score, equalise from it through Chong.
04:49Moher's usually so reliable with the ball, isn't he?
04:51And that's one of those you could say, Oxford a few weeks ago, the draw there, you know, Albion should win that as well.
04:57Obviously, last minute, Albion have a throw-in, somehow ends with the opposition keeper.
05:01Oxford break, get a throw of their own, lob it in the box and it's headed home.
05:05Individual moments aren't quite going and they need to start to because you don't want to set it a few times.
05:12A seven-match winless run doesn't want to become too much longer.
05:15It's a quick turnaround, it's a tight schedule, isn't it?
05:18We're talking about Burnley Thursday night, then it's a trip up to Hull on the Sunday lunchtime.
05:22So, very, very tight one there.
05:24Thankfully, the international break after that, as we know, the third one in three months, which I'm sure no one's a real fan of.
05:30But the other side of that, it's the likes of Norwich and it's Sunderland, sides that are expected to be up there and are going well.
05:36So, tough challenges ahead and we know what it's been like at the Hawthorns this season.
05:41It's been mixed at best.
05:42It's been tough going in terms of a spectator point of view.
05:46What, has there been two home goals in six games, is it?
05:48I think it's the joint lowest home goal total in the 92 in the top four divisions.
05:52So, certainly that to end as well.
05:54So, a lot to put right.
05:55We'll obviously be there Thursday night at the Hawthorns with all the Express and Start coverage.
05:59So, do tune in.
06:00A lot of preview stuff ahead of that to come from the press conference today.
06:03It was good to see Carlos.
06:04He was in good spirits, in good form, as ever, actually.
06:07He was speaking about the recent tragedy, the flooding in Valencia, which is his home area, back home, where his family are around that region.
06:14It really puts things into perspective, actually.
06:16He said how much he was feeling it over in Luton last week.
06:20So, thoughts with, obviously, him and his family and all of that.
06:24It does put things into perspective and it's a real tragedy.
06:26Over 200 deaths there with that.
06:28So, yes, he did speak on that very passionately and hope all is well there.
06:32And hope Albin can return to winning ways on Thursday.