Marc Albrighton delivers first-half masterclass on debut for West Brom v Coventry
Marc Albrighton defied his years to produce a stunning first-half display for West Brom against Coventry at the Hawthorns on Friday (3 February) evening.
The former Leicester City winger looked a cut above the 21 other players on the pitch as he produced a right-wing masterclass to force Carlos Corberan’s side into an early lead.
With first-choice winger Matt Phillips potentially ruled out for the remainder of the season with a quad injury, the Baggies looked to fill this void in their squad with the experience of 33-year-old Albrighton, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
The last-gasp loan acquisition looks to be a shrewd move, as Albrighton looked menacing down his right flank during the opening 45 minutes. On numerous occasions, the former Villa player whipped in some inch-perfect crosses and also looked a threat taking corners.
Taking to Twitter during the match, The Athletic’s Elias Burke described a beautiful move from the Baggies after four minutes which was crafted by Albrighton’s right boot.
He wrote: “Good grief, Dike: you’ve got to score. Delicious ball into the box from Albrighton which, via a few deflections, found its way to the U.S. international a few yards from goal. Looked set to nod in and… headed over. Golden chance to go one up.”
This was a sign of things to come for the Coventry defence as Albrighton bombarded the Coventry box with cross after cross, and was at the heart of every West Brom attack.
Although not playing regularly under Brendan Rodgers at the King Power Stadium, the attacker looked fit as a fiddle and was happy to do the hard yards in defence. A couple of times Corberan’s side regained possession in midfield, adn you’d be forgiven for thinking it was Okay Yokuslu who made the tackle, when in fact it was Albrighton.
If Corberan’s deadline day signing can continue this fine form, it could well prove to be a very shrewd move by the West Brom hierarchy.
Albrighton has been there done it numerous times, and his experience in the dressing room could be crucial in Phillips’ absence in the coming months.
In other West Brom news, Carlos Corberan opens up on the future of winger Karlan Grant after his Swansea January transfer collapsed on deadline day.