OPINION
West Bromwich Albion came out on the right side of a thrilling six goal encounter with Bristol City in the Championship on Tuesday night.
Darren Moore’s side ran out 4-2 winners at the Hawthorns, thanks largely to the contributions of attackers Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle.
The two strikers produced scintillating performances and both men got themselves on the scoresheet, Rodriguez twice and Gayle once.
And it was made evident on Tuesday that the Rodriguez-Gayle partnership is one that must remain in place long term if the Baggies are to be successful.
Rodriguez was heavily linked with a return to former club Burnley this summer, but West Brom were able to retain the striker’s services.
The 29-year-old has rewarded the club with four goals in seven games so far this season, proving himself to be a key player for the team and certainly a level above the Championship.
Gayle, too, has been excellent since joining on loan from Newcastle United this off season. Three goals in seven games may not seem unbelievably prolific, but his three assists show how important he is to the team.
Both players are simply too good for the second tier. They both have experience in the Premier League and are proven goalscorers, to various degrees, in the top flight.
West Brom must ensure that, whether they secure promotion or not, Rodriguez and Gayle continue to make magic together at the Hawthorns, and together, they can go down in history as one of the great Baggies partnerships.
There was no option to buy inserted in Gayle’s loan contract, but the Baggies should make a play to purchase him permanently anyway next summer.
The 28-year-old clearly does not feature in Rafael Benitez’s plans on Tyneside, and West Brom can make the most of the Spaniard’s indifference.
Whatever division they are playing in next year, Rodriguez and Gayle should remain the cornerstone of the starting eleven. Both men possess too much quality for the club to let them go before their partnership has really had a chance to flourish.