Darren Moore thanks West Brom fans ahead of midweek fixture pile-up

The Baggies boss has reassured those who attend games that their ‘huge financial contribution’ does not go unnoticed by the squad.

More than 1,000 die-hard Baggies are making a 300-mile round trip this Friday to see Albion play at Ipswich Town in a televised fixture.

That sparks a run of five games scheduled for evening kick-offs in the week, including a 290-mile round trip to Swansea next Wednesday, followed by two home games on a Monday and a Friday and a trip to Sheffield United, also on a Friday.

“The fans have been superb,” said Moore. “Their commitment to the club has been excellent. I applaud every single one of them.

“The games are not on a Saturday, so the energy and commitment and huge financial contribution has been second to none.

“It’s not easy having a three-game week, but for the team that support is absolutely invaluable. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Thank-you very much, I know you’ve got to dig deep with Christmas coming up, but it’s greatly received from the team.”

In an effort to keep attendances up despite being on television, Ipswich have reduced tickets for this Friday’s game to £10 for adults, £5 for U23s and £3 for U12s.

Even though the Tractor Boys are five points adrift at the bottom of the table, Moore is taking nothing for granted.

"Our immediate focus is on Ipswich,” he said. “A new man has gone in there, he's an experienced manager Paul [Lambert] and we'll need to be at our very, very best to go to Portman Road and get anything.

"They're fighting for their lives, they have a new manager, and they've settled down and shown that they're a sturdy team.

“It will be a different hurdle to the Leeds game but one that we are looking forward to."

Elsewhere, operations director Mark Miles and executive director Ke Xu – known as Ken – have been formally appointed to the board.

Miles is responsible for running The Hawthorns safely while Xu has been owner Guochuan Lai’s man in the Midlands since the takeover.