Ben Wild

Fri 17 February 2023 9:40, UK

Former West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has sent a message of support to Josh Griffiths after he made his debut for the club against Blackburn.

Griffiths, 21, made his Baggies debut in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn but unfortunately failed to keep out Ben Brereton Diaz’s late free-kick.

In response to Griffiths’ Instagram post celebrating the occasion on Thursday (16 February) former Baggie Johnstone relied with three fire emojis, three clapping emojis and a simple “congrats mate”.

Griffiths was thrust into first-team action after David Button’s dramatic loss of form in recent weeks.

However, Griffiths’s debut will be remembered for his failure to keep out Brereton Diaz’s tame late-free kick.

The goalkeeper got a solid hand to the Blackburn hitman’s shot but was unable to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net as Albion squandered the chance to return to winning ways.

Much needed support.

It’s nice to see the goalkeeper’s union is as strong as ever and it may be needed after Griffiths’ debut.

He really should have kept that free-kick out but most of Albion fan frustration will be aimed at the fact the club doesn’t currently have an available goalkeeper who can be trusted.

You wonder how that late free-kick has hit Griffith’s confidence. It won’t have been his first mistake and it will not be his last.

That being said, words of encouragement from a former Albion goalkeeper, a damn good one at that, are sure to be welcomed.

Griffiths may well be thrust back into action when the Baggies return to action against Watford on Monday (20 February).

If Carlos Corberan were to revert back to Button for that game then there is no doubt his confidence would drain completely.

Griffiths needs an arm around him and a message from a former Baggie might just mean more than the rest of the encouraging messages left by other teammates in the replies to his post.

In other West Brom news, Albion pulled the plug on a late loan signing on deadline day.