‘Top class’, ‘Quality’ – These WBA fans delighted as Baggies ace returns after long absence
Despite their goalless draw against Birmingham on Saturday, West Brom returned to the top of the Championship ahead of Leeds.
Leeds lost at Cardiff 2-0 on Sunday afternoon, seeing the Baggies leapfrog them on goal difference ahead of the clash against Brentford on Friday.
Slaven Bilic made a number of decisions, welcoming back Kieran Gibbs and leaving out players such as Kamil Grosicki and Chris Brunt from the squad.
Gibbs has been missing from the Hawthorns since New Year’s Day, and returned straight to the starting 11, replacing Conor Townsend.
Townsend was missing because of circumstance, with Bilic claiming that there was no room for the 27-year-old in the 20-man squad.
It was a solid return for Gibbs, who jumped straight back into the action despite Townsend starting the previous eight games in the Championship.
Only two Baggies players managed more passes in the draw, with Gibbs also making a cracking recovery tackle in the first-half [WhoScored].
Defensively, Gibbs has been much better than Townsend completing more interceptions and clearances, as well as being dribbled past fewer times.
Many West Brom fans reacted to the return of Gibbs, with the majority heaping praise on the former Arsenal man after his time away from the action.
West Brom News have picked out the best reactions below…
https://twitter.com/baggyboy1878/status/1274658851812491266
https://twitter.com/SportinHeroes/status/1274666300644696066
https://twitter.com/SPWyer/status/1274659899302187009
In other West Brom news, these Baggies fans have reacted to Leeds losing against Cardiff on Sunday