West Brom v Norwich City preview: Baggies face glaring home problem

This does not mean that another goalless draw tomorrow with an atypical Norwich team will be a disaster. Carlos Corberan emphasized the value of every point in the championship last time.

But the fans at home simply need to be entertained. They need something to bring them together and something to inspire them.

The unlikely return of two goals in seven home matches is a record that Albion I can’t afford to endure much longer. Season tickets have flown off the shelves at record speed over the summer and around 19,000 guaranteed players want to be repaid with goals to celebrate, or at least the creation of a regular number of chances.

League Two’s Tranmere Rovers have now overtaken the Baggies to leave them bottom of the home goals chart in the top four leagues this season.

The expected goals (xG) measure, which assesses the quality of scoring chances, rated Albion in less than one of four domestic stalemates except one. Against Leeds the rating was 0.71 xG per eight shots, Millwall had 0.73 xG per 13 shots, Cardiff were a clear difference with 1.66 xG per 19 shots, and Burnley most recently had 0.90 xG per 11 throws.

Naturally, each game has its own story. Albion created next to nothing against Millwall, a team happy to defend deep. Against Cardiff, a more aggressive side, the Baggies should have been 5-0 up within half an hour.

However, goalless draws should not be seen as too much of a stick to beat Corberan’s team.

While Albion have been goalless when it comes to their pathetic comeback, they can also boast record-breaking numbers at the other end of the pitch to their faithful hosts.

Just one goal conceded against Middlesbrough in those seven games is the most brutal rearguard record of any of England’s top 92 clubs.

A total of three goals scored by the home support says nothing about value for money at The Hawthorns this season. But credit to Corberan’s resolute Baggies in defence, few have managed to survive this season, even if that department is currently plagued by availability issues.

Norwich will test tomorrow. The Canaries are struggling and winless in six matches, also without some key players, but they boast the division’s hottest striker – with two more goals than Josh Maia – in Spanish striker Borja Sainz with 11 goals.

Just as curious as Albion’s limited home attacking mind, away from home it is the exact opposite. Nobody in the Championship has scored more than Albion’s 14 away to The Hawthorns this season.

The Baggies have the most points on the road but are 20th on home form. More often than not, under Corberan and Albion at this level, you can expect home form to dominate the promotion race. The away record was difficult even last season.

A 2-1 win over Hull to head into the break last time out was crucial in ending an eight-game winless run, but there is still work to be done to resolve their home goal woes.