Chris Lepkowski reacts to Mbaye Diagne failing to score in West Brom v Newcastle
Chris Lepkowski has aired his frustration at Mbaye Diagne and his inability to score during West Brom’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday.
Diagne found some good positions against a depleted Toon XI but he kept fluffing his lines and snatched at a great chance in the first half.
Going into the game the 29-year-old had only scored once in his first seven games since joining in January from Galatasaray, against Manchester United on Valentine’s Day.
Former Birmingham Mail journalist Lepkowski was left exasperated by his inability to find the back of the net versus Newcastle.
“Diagne is so frustrating. Takes up some brilliant positions – so clearly has the instinct- but his finishing… That said, he is probably the best we have in that role,” Lepkowski wrote on his personal Twitter profile.
Cause for concern…but he’s our best option
It is definitely a pressing issue – Albion need goals, and Diagne just isn’t providing them.
Going into the Newcastle game we had only scored 20 Premier League goals – only rock-bottom Sheffield United [16] have fewer.
Wins have been at a premium this season but that is exactly what is required if we are to stand any chance of wriggling out of our lowly position and mounting a bid for survival.
Our defence has improved of late with back-to-back clean sheets against Brighton and Burnley before the loss to Everton on Thursday.
But we need more going forward.
In fairness to him Diagne is the best striker we have got by a fair distance – we need to stick by him.
He has proved to be a handful to opposition defences and has helped to pin the opposition back on occasions, now he just needs to add that clinical edge.
After scoring nine goals in 15 Super Lig appearances for parent club Galatasaray this season, it is in his locker.
It is just a matter of when, not if, he starts hitting the goalscoring trail.
In other West Brom news, Ally McCoist says Diagne was ‘unlucky’ after key incident v Everton.
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