Paul Heckingbottom makes West Brom prediction after Sheffield United defeat

Paul Heckingbottom has predicted that the only way is up for West Brom here, after he watched his Sheffield United inflict another defeat on them on Wednesday.

Billy Sharp struck in either half to send Albion down to ninth in the Championship as they drew another blank away from home.

Indeed it’s their third defeat in a row in the Championship, and Steve Bruce will have to wait until his first game in charge in front of the Hawthorns crowd to try and secure his first victory after being appointed.

The Blades, meanwhile, are flying. They’ve come a long way since being sent packing by Valerien Ismael’s Albion back in August, and under Paul Heckingbottom they’ve won seven of their last nine league matches to put themselves right in the mix for a play-off spot.

Heckingbottom, the former Barnsley and Leeds United manager, fully expects Bruce to get Albion going and, when he does, that the Baggies will remain one of Sheffield United’s biggest dangers in the race for promotion.

“I’m pleased with the win, against a top team. Everyone has spoken of how good their squad is and how they’re favourites to go back up - rightly so. They’ve now got a manager who knows his way around this league better than anyone.

“It’s three points off a team who are going to be up there. They’re going to be up there. The only way they’re going now is up. They’ll improve. They’ll be one of our bigger challengers without a doubt. From that respect is a big win.

“They beat us up down there [in the reverse fixture]. From that respect, this time, we dealt with their threat. We were brave, because we didn’t know how they’d set up.

“All we can do is keep winning games, and if we do then people can start talking about us, because we’ll be in a better