Adam Reach: West Brom defender says work still to do to secure play-off spot
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Adam Reach joined West Brom from Sheffield Wednesday in August 2021 and has made 74 appearances
West Bromwich Albion full-back Adam Reach says they know you "don't win anything for finishing fifth" as the push to confirm the club's place in the Championship play-offs nears its end.
The Baggies' grip on fifth spot dates back to December and victory over Sunderland on Saturday could all-but seal a top-six finish.
Albion have a nine-point cushion over the teams in seventh and eighth place.
"In terms of targets, it's just maximum points," Reach told BBC Radio WM.
"We don't know what points tally will get you fifth or sixth, but we just have to try to take as many as we can."
The Baggies extended their unbeaten run to 10 games with 2-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Rotherham, who are already relegated, and have now occupied fifth place since their 1-1 draw against Stoke at The Hawthorns on 17 December.
They first went fifth on 2 December before dropping to sixth a fortnight later, only to move back up after taking a point against the Potters in their Sunday kick-off 24 hours later. They have held on to fifth place for the last 20 game weeks.
Baggies want to attack play-offs at 'maximum level'
Albion know beating Sunderland, coupled with defeats for seventh-placed Coventry City and Preston in eighth - both on 63 points and who have a game in hand on the Baggies - will mean only a mathematical miracle can deny them a place in the play-offs.
"We've spoken about it all week. For being fifth now, you don't get anything - that only gets you into the semi-finals and there's certain steps you've got to take from there," Reach said.
"Over the games, weeks when we've been fifth we've shown that level of consistency and now it's the final four and we need to emulate that consistency we've shown so far.
"That gives us confidence that we've stayed consistent over the whole season, so we know we can do it.
"We want to take maximum points and sometimes when you've guaranteed a play-off spot you can stumble over the line a little - you want to get into the semi-finals at your maximum level or as near to it as you can."
Wednesday's win over the Millers was only the fifth time the versatile Reach has started for Carlos Corberan's team in a season that's been hampered by a thigh injury and also seen him also used in midfield.
Although he would like to play more, Reach is quite happy with his role in Corberan's machine.
"To be a successful team there are many parts and cogs," he said.
"Everyone would love to play every minute of every game in their preferred role to get that consistency but that's not been my role this season.
"My role has been one who Carlos, the coaching staff and my team-mates can rely on in difficult situations and in different positions but if it ends with reaching the Premier League I don't think I'm going to look back and remember how I did, it'll just be that we did it and I played a part in it."