West Brom Super Fans react to Cedric Kipre performance v Bournemouth
Cedric Kipre made his long-awaited league debut for West Brom on Friday night, but he got off to an inauspicious start as the Baggies began their Championship campaign.
The West Midlands club travelled to the south coast to play Bournemouth and kick off the new season in the second tier.
Valerien Ismael’s line-up looked to be fairly predictable heading into the clash, but there was a surprise when 24-year-old Kipre was handed a start, with Matt Clarke a late withdrawal with an injury.
Kipre was handed the chance to impress over Semi Ajayi, who was forced to watch the action unfold from the substitutes bench.
However, Ismael’s men got off to a bad start as Emiliano Marcondes scored after just 12 minutes, with Kipre missing a challenge in the build-up.
We asked our panel of West Brom Super Fans for their verdict on Kipre after his error.
Here’s what they had to say…
It was a tough first league start for the Albion for the French-born defender who was brought in from Wigan Athletic last year.
He did look nervous at the beginning of the game, and endured a fairly torrid first half.
Kipre looked a bit more confident in the second half, but never appeared wholly comfortable.
However, after such little game time over the past year, including a half-season loan at Belgian outfit Charleroi, it would be remiss to expect him to produce wonders from the get-go.
He’s not expected to be in our first-choice defensive trio of Clarke, Kyle Bartley and Dara O’Shea, but he could be an important squad player this season as a naturally left-footed player, and he may be forced to cover for Clarke again next week.
An away trip to Bournemouth is not easy, and we’re looking forward to seeing how Kipre steps up his game from now.
In other West Brom news, Wayne Rooney reacts to major Albion transfer question.
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