Carlos Corberan highlights optimism with West Brom changes.
Boss Carlos Corberan was satisfied by the impact of his second-half substitutions despite Albion’s failed bid to end their winless run at Luton on Friday night.
Late pushes for a winner were in vain as the spoils were shared following a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road as the stuttering Baggies drew for a fifth match in a row, making it seven without success.
Despite that run Albion clung on to a Championship play-off place as rivals failed to take advantage later in the weekend.
Corberan’s side grew stronger in the second half in Bedfordshire, having taken the lead through Josh Maja at the end of a poor first-half display. An Alex Mowatt error was pounced on by Tahith Chong on the hour before both sides pushed for a winner – with Corberan content with the influence of his changes including Jayson Molumby, Tom Fellows, Mikey Johnston, John Swift and a very rare outing for striker Devante Cole.
West Brom struck gold selling £7m star who’s now worth millions less.
West Bromwich Albion are certainly experiencing a wobble in the Championship at the moment, having started the season like a runaway train.
The Baggies raced straight out of the blocks with five victories from their opening six second-tier contests, before a defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at the close of September clearly knocked confidence in Carlos Corberan’s camp.
Even when results haven’t always gone in the favour of the West Midlands side, it’s safe to say the defence has consistently put in a shift, despite the goals also notably drying up in the attacking positions.
West Brom’s stern defence this season
It’s not as if this is just reserved to this campaign in isolation, however, with Corberan’s men priding themselves on dogged displays last season, on top of their efforts in the Championship now.
West Brom only leaked 47 goals across 46 games, with playoff winners Southampton surrendering a far heftier 63 strikes, and it looks to be another season where the defenders will shine at the Hawthorns.
West Brom centre-back Kyle Bartley
Kyle Bartley has been key to these solid performances at the back so far, amassing five clean sheets from the ten second-tier appearances he has managed to get under his belt, before being ruled out through injury for West Brom’s last two league contests.
Paddy McNair now finds himself in the Hawthorns treatment room too which piles on even more selection issues for Corberan defensively, alongside Semi Ajayi also now being ruled out for four months, but the Spaniard will know he can rely on the trusty duo of Darnell Furlong and Torbjørn Heggem to remain staunch regardless of any more absentees troubling him.
