Exclusive: Kevin Phillips adamant that West Brom 26y/o will start every game for rest of season
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips is adamant that Sam Johnstone will remain as Slaven Bilic’s number one goalkeeper for the rest of the season.
Johnstone, 26, has played every minute of every game in West Brom’s Championship campaign but there have been calls from some fans for him to be dropped.
The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper has, like any goalkeeper, made mistakes this season but Jonathan Bond’s rocky performance in the 3-2 loss to Newcastle on Tuesday should quieten those who want him to come into Bilic’s starting line-up.
Phillips has refused to criticise Bond for his display on Tuesday as he was coming in from the cold but he does not expect the ex-Reading ‘keeper to cause any concern for Johnstone.
“It’s always hard for players who haven’t played in a while, I don’t like to judge them. You play one game and you haven’t played for a while and when a goalkeeper makes a mistake it gets highlighted,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“Bond didn’t do himself any harm but I just think Slaven Bilic has got his 11 in his head, a bit like [Marcelo] Bielsa at Leeds when everyone was calling for [Kiko] Casilla to be dropped. He didn’t because he believed in him.
“Johnstone is, of course, Slaven’s number one but all Bond can do is come in when you get an opportunity and do your best.
“He didn’t have a disaster. I thought he was quite comfortable but of course, there was the mistake.
“Supporters will always pick fault in their goalkeepers, one way or another, but I think Johnstone is Bilic’s number one from now until the end of the season.”
According to stats by WhoScored, Johnstone ranks joint-sixth in the league for the number of saves he’s made this season [98] while only two teams – Leeds and Brentford – have conceded fewer goals than the Baggies in the Championship.
Is Johnstone doing a bad job? It really doesn’t seem that way but goalkeeper stats can be a bit decieving.
In terms of the mistakes he’s made, he hasn’t made as many as Casilla had at Leeds before he was hit with an eight-match ban, and Leeds have a better defensive record than West Brom.
It’s time to lay off Johnstone.
It was always going to be difficult to replace Ben Foster but the Baggies still have one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship.
In other West Brom news, Darren Fletcher has criticised Albion fans for the poor atmosphere at The Hawthorns this week.