West Brom goalkeeper David Button allowed opening goal to affect him in Birmingham defeat – Carlos Corberan
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan admitted goalkeeper David Button allowed his mistake for Birmingham’s opening goal to affect him as the Baggies lost 2-0 at St Andrews.
Corberan’s men got off to the worst possible start in the local derby when Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri scored an audacious free-kick which caught out Button who was expecting a cross rather than a shot.
The 33-year-old, replacing the injured Alex Palmer as Baggies’ number one, was also at fault for the second failing to claim a corner which allowed Krystian Bielik to double Birmingham’s lead.
Corberan, speaking after the game [via Express & Star, 10 February] admitted it was difficult for Button to react after his opening goal howler.
He said: “I think the first goal affected him too much.
“The fact that he conceded that goal, it’s a goal we don’t want him to be surprised by, but it surprised him.
“He was waiting for the cross. When you are a player who are not competing at the level that you expect from yourself, these goals can create and increase doubts. It affected him too much.
“He was taking risks and making decisions which showed a level of personality. There weren’t many chances for them where he could react to come back to the level of confidence you need to do it.
“Unfortunately we conceded from the corner, an action he was involved in too.
“It’s clear that it isn’t a game that I know he is going to be happy with. I’m not happy with myself, and I know no players are going to be happy with today. It’d be easy now to say that we lost because of David, but I don’t think so – we lost because in two actions, they surprised us and then corner we missed the action.
Bad day
In all truth, it was a bad day at the office for the Baggies and they simply failed to get going all game. Birmingham deserved the bragging rights as they completely dominated Corberan’s men.
And in this kind of high-stakes fixture, there is simply no room for errors and Button was clearly at fault for both goals which at least could have rewarded the Baggies with a point had he been on song last night.
The mistake for the first goal was completely avoidable, as any top-level goalkeeper will set himself and be ready for any scenario which Button failed to do.
It was a night in which the 33-year-old failed to show that he can seriously challenge Palmer for the no.1 goalkeeping jersey.
All eyes will now move to the next fixtures with another change surely being called for as Josh Griffiths may get the chance that all young goalkeepers would love at The Albion.
Corberan certainly has some big calls to make this week.
In other West Brom news, the manager has been warned that he could be judged very harshly if his decision turns out badly.