Trio of West Brom loanees shine v Man Utd but another stands out for all the wrong reasons – View
West Brom produced a much-improved display against Manchester United to claim a crucial point but it wouldn’t be Albion without some issues.
January recruit Mbaye Diagne delivered a dream start for Sam Allardyce when he struck his first Baggies goal in the second minute of the game following a cross from fellow loanee Conor Gallagher.
They made up half of the Albion loanee total that started the game v Manchester United and Okay Yokuslu was perhaps the pick of the bunch as he produced an industrious display in front of the defence to minimise the visitors to just two shots in the first half.
However it was not all plain-sailing for the temporary recruits as Ainsley Maitland-Niles had a game to forget in midfield.
Lining up alongside Gallagher in the middle of midfield this was the position the Arsenal ace was desperate to play and prove himself as a Premier League performer, and was a big reason why he chose to come to The Hawthorns.
But he failed to match the performances of the others and was easily the weakest out of the midfield trio.
It’s not easy coming up against the supreme talent of Fernandes and the imposing presence of Scott McTominay but Maitland-Niles seemed overawed by the occasion as the game passed him by.
According to Wyscout he only won 30% of his duels (3/10) which was the worst figure recorded on the Albion team, and none of these were on the defensive side as he lost his only defensive duel.
By contrast he completed 50% of the 16 he attempted v Spurs the previous weekend and he also picked up a booking on Sunday for his troubles.
He also lost the ball 13 times, three more than any other player, including five times in his own half as he looked hurried in possession and bereft of any confidence on the ball.
Yokuslu, meanwhile, won 92% of his duels and appeared much more resolute at the hear of the West Brom midfield.
Gallagher was the one probing in possession and can count an assist to his name for Diagne’s opener.
It is early days in Maitland-Niles’ Albion career but it is just a little pointer that he must learn from this and look to emulate the performance of his midfield cohorts going forwards.
He certainly has the talent but he could do with just being more composed and assertive on the ball.
At West Brom News we expect him to show his international class in the upcoming fixtures against Burnley and Brighton in games that could prove pivotal to Albion’s chances of staging a late bid for survival.
In other West Brom news, Big Sam makes his feelings known on the standards of refereeing in the Premier League.
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