View: One player continues to struggle – Three things learned in West Brom win v Sheff Utd
West Brom earned their first Premier League win of the season at The Hawthorns on Saturday, with a Conor Gallagher goal sealing a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United.
The result moves the Baggies out of the relegation zone and up to 17th in the table and provides a timely boost for Slaven Bilic and his team.
It was not all positives for Bilic’s side though and there remain concerns about this team at both ends of the pitch.
Here are three things we learned on Saturday.
Conor Gallagher is a star
Gallagher has threatened to deliver a couple of match-winning performances already this season and he made the difference against the Blades. He took on the shot from optimistic range but was able to take advantage of the disorganisation in the United box and put his side ahead.
His overall game was outstanding too, taking five shots, completing one dribble and making two tackles. He also completed 92% of his passes and looked at home in the middle of midfield (via WhoScored).
Karlan Grant’s struggles continue
Grant arrived for just under £15 million over the summer but has just one Premier League goal to his name so far this season. Starting upfront once again on Saturday, he managed just one shot on target and was wasteful with the ball, completing just 71% of his passes (via WhoScored).
Only Branislav Ivanovic of the Baggies starters touched the ball less often than the former Huddersfield Town forward and if he is to continue to get the nod, he will need to have more impact on future matches.
Defensive issues continue
Despite the win, the Baggies still allowed the Blades to take 21 shots (via WhoScored) and were reliant on a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing. The back three has seen some improvement, but they were too open in this match.
With the tough fixtures continuing to come Bilic will need to find a solution because it is unlikely other teams will be as wasteful in front of goal as Sheffield United were.
In other West Brom news, the failings in Baggies transfer policy are becoming clear
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