View: 27y/o must play starring role if West Brom are to win v Crystal Palace
West Brom face Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns on Sunday in a fascinating meeting between two struggling sides at the bottom of the Premier League.
The Baggies earned their first Premier League win of the season last weekend at home to Sheffield United and have an opportunity against Palace, but must be aware of their big threat.
Wilfried Zaha missed out against Burnley and Newcastle United and Roy Hodgson’s team lost on both occasions. With five goals and two assists in the league so far this season (via WhoScored), Zaha is crucial for this side.
With the 28-year-old expected to be available against the Baggies (via PremierInjuries), Slaven Bilic must think carefully about how his side try to stop the Ivory Coast international. While he has tended to play in a front two in a 4-4-2 system this season, he loves to drift out to the left-wing, where he can combine with talented youngster Eberechi Eze.
From there, he likes to cut inside and test the opposition defence with his exciting dribbling skills. Therefore, the role of Semi Ajayi, 27, on the right side of the back three is vital.
Ajayi is one of the few West Brom defenders who has anything like the athleticism to match up with Zaha. Given Branislav Ivanovic’s limitations, he will be tasked with covering a lot of space and maintaining quality communication with wing-back Darnell Furlong is essential.
With the proposition of taking on Kyle Bartley and Ivanovic more appealing than Ajayi, Zaha could look to switch over to the right side, and that would cause problems, but it does limit his ability to cut inside onto his right foot.
Given Palace’s preference to play without the ball, it would also make sense for the Baggies to sit a little deeper and play to the strengths of Ivanovic while limiting the space for Zaha, Eze and Jordan Ayew to run into.
Overall, it will be a fascinating tactical battle and Ajayi is a key piece for the Baggies and needs to excel if they are to have any joy against Zaha.
In other West Brom news, why the Baggies are in the ideal position to add second win v Crystal Palace
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