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Championship | Gameweek 26
Jan 1, 2020 at 5.15pm UK
 
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Bilic calls for West Brom "focus" ahead of table-topping clash with Leeds

:Headline: Bilic calls for West Brom 'focus' ahead of table-topping clash with Leeds: ID:384621: from db_amp
Both clubs suffered semi-final play-off agony last season.

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic heads into the Sky Bet Championship showdown with Leeds on New Year's Day stressing that a loss of focus could prove fatal for either side.

Leeds have taken over at the top of the table on goal difference, with West Brom failing to win any of their past three matches.

Both sides still have a healthy nine-point lead over third-placed Fulham but, after good winning runs throughout November, neither have been consistent in recent weeks.

"The league is very long and you know you cannot lose the focus because it happens every year," Bilic said at his pre-match press conference.

"If you lose the focus, commitment or quality – four or five per cent – then you are gone.

"Sometimes you can get lucky, but normally you pay the price for that."

Leeds' pulsating 5-4 win over Birmingham on Sunday was their first in four games.

But Bilic says Marcelo Bielsa's side have, like Albion, been galvanised by suffering semi-final play-off agony last season.

"They experienced something quite painful last year, they lost in the worst possible way," Bilic said.

"We did the same last season, you are there and then we lost it in the play-offs.

"They learn from their mistakes, you are double aware, double focused and that's definitely one of the reasons we are there with them and they with us."

Bielsa was grateful for the incredible victory over Birmingham,  secured by a Wes Harding own goal in the fifth minute of injury time after Leeds had led on three occasions.

"I believe it is always better to win but winning does not guarantee too much in relation to the next game," Bielsa said.

"Always it is better to win, but to win is not enough to win again."

Leeds, who hope to have striker Patrick Bamford fit again, have not won at The Hawthorns since 2002 and have lost on their past three visits, including a 4-1 defeat last season.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Fulham look for a third win in four as they host Reading, while Brentford – now fourth after defeat at Millwall on Sunday – travel to eighth-placed Bristol City.

City, for their part, will hope to build some momentum after ending their four-game losing run with a 3-0 victory over struggling Luton last time out.

Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday seek to tighten their grip on play-off places as they host Blackburn and Hull respectively, but Preston will be looking to pounce on any slip-ups as they take on Middlesbrough.

Bottom side Wigan, who have not won in 13 games, will hope to avoid any Birmingham backlash as they travel to St Andrew's, while fellow basement-dwellers Luton are at Millwall.

Stoke, in 21st, will aim to cut the seven-point gap to Huddersfield above them as they head to the John Smith's Stadium, and Wednesday's other game sees QPR take on Cardiff.

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1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318
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