West Brom are one of the Championship’s high-fliers at the moment and whilst the supporters love seeing their side do well, one of the drawbacks of that is that they get chosen for more games to be live on Sky. The latest two fixtures chosen are Ipswich away and Aston Villa at home and they will now both be on a Friday night, as the club announced on their website.
Our fixtures with @Official_ITFC and @AVFCOfficial have both been selected for live television coverage…#WBA https://t.co/Qy1Pd2Vyos
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) October 10, 2018
For a lot of fans, this news is awful for them. The supporters don’t want their fixtures to be changed as it means they struggle to get tickets. Some fans have already expressed their anger and frustration at these changes and are fuming that the club’s good form and demand for them to be on television has led to them being unable to buy tickets, especially for games as big as Aston Villa at home.
The fact that the trip to Ipswich has been chosen is also a scandal as far as The Baggies are concerned. The journey from The Hawthorns to Portman Road is roughly 115 miles and for Sky and the EFL to expect the travelling Baggies to make that trip for a 7:45 kick off on a Friday evening is ludicrous. However, this is just another case of how Sky put the travelling fans behind those watching at home and everyone knows it certainly won’t be the last.
You can read The Baggies’ verdict on their fixture changes here:
Noooooo, this is not right . I now have to break the bad news to my 9 year old lad that we can’t go to Portman road to cheer on the boys. He will be gutted
— Carl Burkitt (@baggyboy1878) 10 October 2018
Surely the game vs Villa should have been 12 midday on a Sunday and why on earth put us against Ipswich on a Friday night !!? Has anyone from @SkySports ever attempted the A14 on a Friday afternoon!! Away support now reduced by 2/3!!!!
— Chris_wba (@Chris291100) October 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/RobPaddockWBA/status/1050046466797002753
Why is the longest game of the season now a Friday night? 🙁 wanted to go as well!
— David Carr (@DavidCWba) October 10, 2018
West Bromwich fans coming a poor second to sky sports struggling to go to the villa match now due to work commitments now point in purchasing a season ticket
— Steven Clay (@StevenC11395901) October 10, 2018
U having a laugh Friday night villa Albion nope why u do This to us
— Electric Mudkip Youtube (@ElectricMudz) 10 October 2018
https://twitter.com/jamster0504/status/1050065858452701184
The Baggies are rightly furious with the fixture changes and they’ll hope that in future they’re not selected to be on Sky.
