West Bromwich Albion clambered again into type final night time as they recorded yet one more Championship victory to maneuver them into the play-off positions.
It marks the Baggies’ tenth victory of their final 12 league video games and a redemption consequence as their only loss throughout that interval (apart from to league leaders Burnley) was towards the workforce they defeated final night time, Coventry Metropolis.
In a close-fought encounter at The Hawthorns, the Sky Blues battled effectively to hassle the hosts on quite a few events. Regardless of this, it was Grady Diangana’s strike on quarter-hour which separated the groups on the ultimate whistle.
His close-range end was considered one of simply three pictures heading in the right direction for Carlos Corberan’s facet, however the Baggies boss will as soon as once more experience a show which afforded simply one shot heading in the right direction from the opposition and warranted one other clear sheet.
Ought to the 39-year-old mould his workforce right into a extra medical and inventive outfit, mixed with the defensive foundations already in place, he may very well be ready to take the Premier League by storm.
One in all few villains from final night time performed a big function on this lack of proficiency, as Daryl Dike endured considered one of his hardest video games in a West Brom shirt.
Did Dike allow you to down tonight?
The American was comfortably the worst-performing starter from the house facet and deservedly earned his 6.1 Sofascore ranking earlier than being dragged off within the 59th minute. Certainly, journalist Elias Burke took to Twitter to declare that the 22-year-old had “looked pretty sluggish” earlier than his substitution.
That lethargy translated into his affect, which was virtually non-existent. In his time on the sphere, Dike solely managed eight touches of the ball, three of which had been accomplished passes. Even goalkeeper David Button managed extra; the truth is, his tally of touches (30) was virtually quadruple that of the ex-Orlando Metropolis striker.
Dike’s lack of impetus to become involved may very well be forgiven if he weren’t so integral in squandering the few golden alternatives which fell his method. Regardless of having such a minuscule variety of touches, the 22-year-old nonetheless managed to overlook two large possibilities, which just about value Corberan and Albion.
Profitable by such a small margin is commonly satisfying, however had the guests scored themselves, West Brom would have rued these possibilities that their American marksman fluffed.
This exhibiting may supply proof that he’s not the only real reply to the membership’s placing woes, and that maybe Karlan Grant’s failed deadline day move to Swansea Metropolis could be a blessing in disguise. He couldn’t have achieved a lot worse than his team-mate final night time, even when the 25-year-old is desperately off form, having not scored since August.