Goal-shy West Brom 'can't worry' about lack of scoring at home

Carlos Corberan's longest winless run was nine games in January and February 2021 in his first season at Huddersfield

West Bromwich Albion fans will be wishing, hoping and maybe even praying for goals when they host Burnley on Thursday night.

The Lord may be their Shepherd - and they shall not want. But, as far as hitting the back of the net is concerned, in their home blue and white stripes, Albion have sure been found wanting this season.

In six league games at The Hawthorns so far, the Albion faithful have witnessed three goalless draws [the last two of them back-to-back], two Albion 1-0 wins and a 1-0 away victory for Middlesbrough.

Played: Six; Goals For: Two; Goals Against: One.

The Baggies, along with League Two Tranmere Rovers, have the lowest home goal tally in the English Football League.

That is all in stark contrast to their away form, that has brought them 12 goals in seven games - the highest in the Championship, with top scorer Josh Maja scoring seven of his eight goals this season on the road.

But finding goals from the rest of their team has not been quite as simple.

Alex Mowatt [three], Karlan Grant [two] and Jayson Molumby [one] are the only other Baggies players to have found the net.

"In past years we have had more goals than we have now," boss Carlos Corberan said.

An overall total of 14 in 13 games is a large part of the reason why Albion have slipped from top of the league, after five wins in their first six matches, to sixth, after a winless seven-game run that has included five draws in a row.

Now they take on a fourth-placed Burnley side who are only two points ahead of Albion – and could be the ideal opposition to play a more open game and bring out the Baggies' best attacking qualities.

"Without a doubt they have one of the strongest squads in the Championship," Corberan told BBC Radio WM.

"I have watched their games. They play from the back and try to play in the attacking half.

"The good thing in football is that every game is demanding - a mental challenge. You win with experience but you also win with emotion."

While injuries to his defence have caused problems, having lost Semi Ajayi, Kyle Bartley and Paddy McNair for last Friday night's 1-1 draw at Luton, Corberan insists that the overall performance level has not actually differed much between that early season run and now.

He remains full of belief that results - and for all the worry that they have not won in seven, Albion are also unbeaten in five - could just as easily take an upturn.

"The fact that football is so intense helps," he said.

"You cannot worry about what has gone. There are so many things we can do. How we defend and how we attack. But we just need to concentrate on the things that affect us."