Daniel Feliciano

Mon 2 January 2023 16:56, UK

West Brom claimed a huge three points to start off 2023 as they earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Reading at The Hawthorns on Monday afternoon.

The Baggies started the game on fire and should have been ahead after chances for Daryl Dike, John Swift and Jayson Molumby but the Reading keeper was in good form to keep it level heading into the break.

In the second half it was more control from the home side and they got their reward when Jayson Molumby crossed for Dike to stoop and head home on the hour mark.

That was enough to claim all three points in the end as West Brom picked up another clean sheet and another three points to edge towards the playoff places in a huge u-turn since Steve Bruce’s dismissal.

Here is how we rated the performance of each West Brom player from the game…

Alex Palmer – 6/10

The keeper didn’t have much to do, but he commanded his area well and was good with the ball at his feet when he needed to be. A solid performance from the now cemented number one goalkeeper at the club.

Darnell Furlong – 6/10

Furlong looks far more comfortable in a back-four than he ever did in a back-three, and that showed with his defensive display on the day keeping Reading quiet and progressing play well from the back. A strong showing.

Dara O’Shea – 7/10

Bruce once said O’Shea would be a future captain of this club, and he doesn’t look out of place with the armband on at all. A commanding performance from the centre-back who dominated aerially against Andy Carroll and looked comfortable with the ball at his feet too.

Erik Pieters – 7/10

If you didn’t know Pieters was a left-back by trade then you wouldn’t have found out watching him in this game. A really mature performance from the veteran defender as he swept everything up comfortably and made sure of the clean sheet.

Connor Townsend – 6/10

Townsend doesn’t carry the same offensive threat as he did when he was playing as a wing-back last season, but defensively he looked assured and as part of this defensive unit it’s hard to pick out a weak link such is the standard of performance.

Okay Yokuslu – 7/10

Far too good for this level of football, so he seems adamant that he will take us back to the Premier League so he doesn’t have to spend too long here. A controlled performance breaking up play, building attacks and just leading this team with a performance that we now come to expect from him.

Jayson Molumby – 8/10

A top performance from the midfielder who battled hard to win the ball back whenever we lost it, passed the ball brilliantly when we did have it and he put in the exceptional cross to help Dike get his goal. A brilliant showing.

Jed Wallace – 7/10

A constant threat down the right wing as usual helping to create plenty of chances, but just lacked that final product today. Keep giving him the ball and he makes things happen though.

John Swift – 6/10

Swift came into the team and just looked a little rusty with his passing, but his overall influence on the game was good and his contribution was good. He’s got a battle on his hands with Rogic for a starting place though.

Matty Phillips – 5/10

Not the best showing from the experienced winger, who never really got into the game and offered very little going forward before being substituted just ten minutes into the second half. It would be a surprise if he was in the starting lineup regularly going forward now.

Daryl Dike – 9/10

A really top performance from the American, who finally looks like the striker we spent £7m on just a year ago. Strong, powerful, won his duels, ran the channels and took his goal brilliantly. A great showing.

Substitutes

Grady Diangana – 6/10

Came on and immediately made a difference with his direct running and pace, but once again the lack of end product is a problem when we’re dominating games.

Brandon Thomas-Asante – N/A

Tom Rogic – N/A

Semi Ajayi – N/A

Taylor Gardner-Hickman – N/A