West Brom duo named in Championship Team of the Month as Carlos Corberan revival continues
West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer and midfielder Okay Yokuslu have been named in the Championship Team of the Month for their roles in the club’s remarkable turnaround under Carlos Corberan.
The pair were instrumental in the Baggies’ stunning festive period, which saw the club pick up 12 points from five games upon returning from the World Cup break.
Palmer conceded only two goals in December and kept three clean sheets, while Yokuslu netted a stunning double against Preston and recorded a total of 20 tackles and interceptions throughout the month according to WhoScored.
According to the WhoScored ratings and as reported via Sky Sports, the Baggies shot-stopper recorded an average rating of 7.10 over the five matches, and Yokuslu had an even more impressive 7.85 rating.
Their form has helped propel the Baggies from the precipice of the relegation zone to ninth place and just a point off the playoff spots.
Key figures
Palmer has been a monumental presence in between the sticks for Corberan since his arrival at the club, and he has overseen a longer run of seven clean sheets from the Baggies’ last nine Championship fixtures.
Among Championship keepers, only Joe Lumley (16) recorded more saves than Palmer in December, and his place in the side is a just reward for his efforts.
Yokuslu, meanwhile, has been the unsung hero of the festive period and was rightly credited for his performances with multiple man-of-the-match awards in the last month.
Two of the midfielder’s three goals this season came against Preston last month, and his first strike was an absolute beauty. Picking up the ball from 30 yards out, the Turkish player hit a thunderous strike beyond Freddie Woodman in the Lilywhites’ net.
With West Brom now lurking on the edge of the playoff spots, both players will need to continue their fine form to stand a chance of promotion back to the Premier League.
In other West Brom news, Albion could be set to recall this player from a loan after his manager was sacked.