Anthony Onifade

Wed 15 February 2023 22:20, UK

West Brom legend Tony Brown praised what midfielder Okay Yokuslu did in the 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers in the Sky Bet Championship.

The Baggies missed the chance to return to the playoff places after a late Ben Brereton Diaz goal earned Blackburn a hard-earned point at the Hawthorns, and extended Carlos Corberan’s two-game winless streak since he made the decision to stay at the West Midlands outfit.

And Brown praised what Yokuslu did defensively to hold off a Blackburn attack which could have led to a goal for the away side.

Speaking on BBC WM, as quoted on the BBC Sport website [15 February, 21:35], he said: “It was brilliant from Okay Yokuslu to win the header and Jayson Molumby threw himself into the six-yard box.

“Albion can’t ease off the pace now and take it for granted that will be enough. They still have a job to do.”

Crucial

Corberan will be incredibly disappointed his side failed to hold on at the death to enter the playoff places for the time being. In what’s shaping up to be a tight playoff race so far, a win over one of their rivals would have been a crucial confidence boost for the coming weeks but it wasn’t to be.

One man Corberan will be thanking for his tremendous performance is Yokuslu who’s brilliant defensive work probably saved the Baggies from a damaging defeat.

The Turkish midfielder proved steel in midfield once again, winning six of his ten ground duels, six of his ten aerial duels and completing two of his four dribbles putting in a complete midfield display alongside the goalscoring Jayson Molumby.

The Baggies remain just outside the playoff places by two points and the game against another one of their rivals in Watford looks like an even bigger fixture, and they will certainly need Yokuslu in a similar vein of form if they are to triumph at Vicarage Road on Monday.

In other West Brom news, a defender may never feature for the club again after what happened recently and may even leave for free.