That season, the Baggies would barely defeat Brentford to secure an automatic promotion slot, finishing in second place by two points, while Leeds United won the second division championship.
Two players who were on loan from West Ham and Sporting Lisbon, respectively, Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira, were very successful for Albion during that campaign.
Together, they would develop an impressive rapport on the field, regularly breaking down Championship defenses with their quickness, style, and natural vision.
Both players quickly gained popularity and were signed to long-term contracts at B71. Diangana, a graduate of the West Ham academy, joined for an alleged £18 million, while Pereira rejoined for £9 million.
Pereira would continue to impress in the final third as they made their way back to the top flight, but he was unable to prevent the rest of the West Brom team from crumbling as a unit.
In his first Premier League season, the 27-year-old scored 11 goals and provided six assists, but Diangana did not play regularly in the first team under Sam Allardyce, Bilic’s replacement.
Football League World contrasts how Pereira and Diangana worked together on the field, highlighting their spectacular performance during the Championship.
The Congolese international played for the Baggies 46 times with Pereira, logging 2,542 minutes of action while donning a blue and white shirt.
With Pereira at his side, the wide player would win 17 matches; they would also oversee 13 draws and 16 losses.
Over the course of the two seasons with Pereira’s squad, Diangana scored nine goals and provided seven assists.
During his two seasons at The Hawthorns, the Brazilian was Albion’s most valuable player, averaging 3,616 minutes of play as opposed to Diangana’s 2,885 minutes.
Following a class upgrade from the Championship to the Premier League, Pereira scored 10 goals and totaled 22 assists in their combined games.
Without a question, Pereira is a player the West Brom supporters sincerely miss. His talent in the Premier League is a gift in the second division, helping the team return to the top of the English league.
Pereira was a bright spot in an otherwise bleak season for Albion, providing them with a creative spark to stay competitive even after they were demoted to the Championship without warning.
Baggies fans will remember him and Diangana’s connection from their first seasons together for a long time, as they continue to hope the 25-year-old can reach his previous caliber of consistently excellent play.
As demonstrated by his time in the West Midlands, Carlos Corberan has a history of turning around underperforming players. If Diangana keeps up his offensive output, Albion’s decision to invest in the attacker will seem wise even in the face of years of skepticism regarding the cost.
