Dan @AlbionOnSunday

Sun 20 September 2020 13:15, UK

Dan is a die-hard West Brom fan who has been going to The Hawthorns for over 20 years and we’re proud to feature his articles on the West Brom News website. You can find more of Dan’s fascinating reads at Albion On Sunday or follow him on Twitter @AlbionOnSunday.

After a wonderful early goal from Grady Diangana, it felt like the doom and gloom that followed the opening day defeat might have been misplaced. Instead, as half time approached, West Brom chose to combust.

What is frustrating is the self-inflicted nature of Albion’s opening two defeats. They started this game looking well organised, hungry and retaining that flair that tore open Championship clubs at the start of last season. Against Leicester, it was two daft penalties, and against Everton, it was two daft red cards. Perhaps that is a consistency of sorts.

It is one thing to allow James Rodriguez to score a brilliant goal against you, and another entirely to let him rile you to the point of violent conduct. Perhaps the Colombian was mentored in the dark arts by former teammate Sergio Ramos, but it still feels a bit like being goaded into a fight by Paddington Bear.

Although he has now rightly apologised, as one of the more experienced heads in the squad, Kieran Gibbs should know better. His dismissal not only threw this fixture away but because of his ability relative to those around him, it also makes the next run of games even more challenging.

It remains the earliest of days and it is worth reiterating that at times there was a great deal of joy in West Brom’s attacking play. A much-lauded Everton side were, if not outplayed, certainly well managed. Had Albion made it to half time in a state other than blind panic, they still had the ability to find a way back into the game.

There were two moments of individual brilliance from Diangana and Matheus Pereira that will give Albion fans hope. Whilst over the course of a season you can improve shape and positioning, you can’t train players in how to conjure such magic. Albion need to find a way to capitalise on their genius rather than allowing such goals to be mere footnotes on a thumping.

What is of concern is that in order to release their potential, Albion need to show far more discipline. Whilst Bilic’s frustration was understandable, if he is unable to retain his cool then he has little grounds to admonish Gibbs for inexplicably losing his. The approach he appears to favour is one of containment and counter, which requires remarkable work rate and composure. Bilic has been such a calming presence since joining the club – rarely getting too high or low – but chasing after a referee who needs no excuse to bask in the limelight was an error of judgement.

“I told him if you want to kill us, kill us. That’s all.”

Slaven Bilić on his heated conversation at half time with Mike Dean

No matter the legitimacy of his concerns – which must presumably be with the first goal rather than Gibbs’ red card, but was either way misplaced – it perhaps set a narrative of implosion that was entirely avoidable. Pereira showed that the team had the quality to still get goals if only they had the know-how to keep themselves in the game.

There seems a dangerous timidity when under pressure. This is most obviously exposed at set-pieces but in open play, there is an uncertainty as to when to dominate physically and when to avoid clumsy VAR observable contact. For several of the goals, a lazy leg was vaguely proffered rather than substantive effort to block a shot. Even worse, tracking runners was abandoned to vainly appeal for an offside flag that under new rules, even if warranted, will not be raised until after a goal is scored. It is another of this year’s new challenges.