Football
Alex Mowatt Challenges West Brom to "Go One Better" in Premier League Promotion Hunt
Alex Mowatt challenges West Brom to aim for Premier League promotion this season after last year's heartbreak. The team is ready and determined to succeed, fueled by a strong pre-season and new signings.
Image Credits: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images
Alex Mowatt has challenged promotion-hungry West Brom to “go one better this year” as they look to get back in the Premier League.
Heartbreak and Determination
The Baggies dazzled for much of last season in the Championship but suffered agonising heartache at the penultimate hurdle against Southampton.
Having drawn 0-0 at home to the Saints in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, Carlos Corberan’s side were beaten 3-1 at St Mary’s Stadium in the return fixture, and to rub salt into the wound it was the Saints who won promotion to the topflight.
But Mowatt and his teammates have enjoyed a solid pre-season ahead of the new campaign and are understandably looking to see if they can take the next step, earning a Premier League return for the first time since 2020.
“It was disappointing (how the season finished), especially after how well we played in the first leg,” Mowatt told SportsBoom.com.
But we didn’t play as well in the second leg as well as we could – and that cost us.
Alex Mowatt
Building Momentum
“However, it’s a new season and we want to go again. Hopefully, we can go one better this year.”
“Everyone wants to achieve that dream (of playing in the Premier League).”
“But you’ve just got to take it game-by-game and see where you are come Christmas – then it’s a case of building from there.”
Image Credits:Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images
Inspiration from the Past
Former Barnsley midfielder enjoyed a memorable promotion to the Championship with the Tykes in the 2018-19 season.
And the 29-year-old, who has also played for Leeds United and Oxford United, believes those “special” memories are what help inspire him to achieve more success in his career.
“Those moments live in your memory,” said Mowatt.
“That was a great year for me, I remember it so well after – and all the parties after as well. I wouldn’t mind doing that again!”
The Baggies spent an intensive week training at England’s St. George’s Park training base in preparation for the new season.
A Strengthened Squad
Mowatt, now in his fourth season with Midlands’ club, is confident the Baggies’ squad is strong enough to challenge for promotion for successive seasons.
They will have to do that without last season’s leading scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante, with the 11-goal hitman having left for Coventry City this summer.
But former Manchester City and Barnsley striker Devante Cole has been signed to add some goals to the Baggies’ firepower, as well a string of new signings which have freshened up their squad ahead of what promises to be another testing quest to get back in the topflight.
“We’ve had a good pre-season so far, we’ve had quite a few games, so it’s been good,” reflected Mowatt.
The pre-season trips are important, especially for the new lads. But all of the new lads have settled in really well, it’s been good so far.
Alex Mowatt
“We like it as players playing Saturday and then Tuesday, it’s such a competitive league.”
“You know, going into the league you never know what’s going to happen.”
“You never know who’s going to finish top, ust look at how well Ipswich did last season. Anything can happen. There’s lots of games this season, but that’s why it’s so fun.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.