Richard Beale and Taylor Gardner-Hickman named in EFL Championship team of the week
Richard Beale and Taylor Gardner-Hickman have been named in the official EFL Championship team of the week after West Brom beat Reading on Saturday.
The Baggies ended a run of ten games without a win thanks to goals from Matt Phillips and Gardner-Hickman either side of half-time, moving the club out of the relegation zone.
The performance of the caretaker boss has seen him dropped in as manager of the week, while academy graduate Gardner-Hickman was installed in central midfield as revealed by the official Championship Twitter account [17 October].
The 20-year-old had been played in both full-back positions this season by Steve Bruce prior to his sacking last week, but started in midfield for Beale for this game.
It’s where he excelled last season in the Championship too, and seems to be his best position as he now pushes for an extended run in the team.
Deserved
There hasn’t been much to write home about this season for West Brom, with just one win in the 13 games prior to Saturday’s clash.
But the performance of Gardner-Hickman doubled up with the spirit that Beale seemed to garner during the game is something to really build on for this squad.
The injection of youth and pace into the side was a positive, and after finally getting a result they can now push forward and look to climb up the table as quickly as possible.
This is a squad that is far too good to be where it is in the Championship table, but with more performances like the one we saw on Saturday afternoon there is far more opportunity for improvements and happiness at The Hawthorns.
It’s a perfect start to life after Bruce has gone, and if it can be continued for the clash with Bristol City on Tuesday night and they can secure a second win then Beale could be in with a shout of keeping the job full-time.
In other West Brom news, another candidate for the job has emerged according to a report