‘Quite shocked’ – Paul Merson responds to Jeff Stelling question on West Brom player v Chelsea
Paul Merson has claimed that West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone could have done little to stop Mason Mount’s goal for Chelsea last weekend.
The Baggies threw away a 3-0 lead over the Blues at The Hawthorns, with the England international igniting their comeback with a strike from long distance.
Johnstone stood still as the ball passed him, and Stelling was curious as to whether or not the 27-year-old could have made a greater effort.
Speaking on Soccer Saturday (12pm, October 3rd, Sky Sports News), the host said: “Sam Johnstone has been really good for them over the past couple of seasons in goal.
“The goal that started the comeback, the Mason Mount goal, could he have done anything more?”
Merson responded: “He hits it well but he doesn’t move.
“It goes through a few players, but I was quite shocked.
“He isn’t going to put it anywhere else bar there. He does hit it well.
“But you just don’t know and this ball moves so much, and he has hit that very well. Yeah, I don’t think he has much to do with it if I’m being honest.”
We’re inclined to agree with Merson on this one.
On first viewing, it looks like a bad one for Johnstone.
As per Wyscout, Mount’s goal only had an xG of 0.13, but that only really tells half the story.
For one thing, the manner in which the ball is struck back in the direction that Johnstone is travelling from makes it incredibly hard for him to shift his weight back to make the save.
Moreover, the strike is pure and comes through a whole host of bodies before hitting the back of the net.
There are very few keepers in the world who would have been able to do anything about it.
Ultimately, it looks a lot worse than it is.
In other West Brom news, Championship boss speaks out on striker linked with West Brom switch.
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