Carlos Corberan hopes to go back to basics ahead of West Brom clash v Middlesbrough
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan wants to see his side improve on some of the basics of their defending as they hunt for a return to their solid base.
The Baggies held one of the best defensive records in the division since the Spaniard’s appointment in October until the early part of 2023, but have since failed to keep clean sheets as their great form has petered out in recent weeks.
Corberan’s side have conceded 15 goals in their last six games away from The Hawthorns in all competitions, winning just one of those.
Ahead of their crunch clash against free-scoring Middlesbrough on home turf on Saturday afternoon, Corberan said his side must “recover some of the basics” if they are to be a strong team again.
Speaking to Express & Star [23 February], he said: “What we need to analyse is the chances we concede. It’s true that we didn’t defend well (at Watford on Monday) because we were too open in moments we need to be more compact, narrow and more close.
“In previous games, more numbers of goals we have conceded have arrived by free-kicks or corners, from set-pieces, something we keep insisting to manage well.”
“It’s proven in football to never stop and now is the moment to analyse everything, because football demands for us to grow and improve, to me, to the players, to everyone,” added the Spaniard.
“This is the responsibility we have in our club, as staff and players, because if we defend well we have more opportunity for the three points and the clean sheet allows at least one point.
“We haven’t been able to achieve what we have (previously) achieved, so now we need to recover some of the basics and some of the game management to be the strong team in defence that we need to be.”
Solid base required
The Baggies have been pretty impressive in their defensive work at the Hawthorns ever since Corberan’s appointment. Ben Brereton Diaz’s late free-kick last week halted a tremendous record of seven consecutive home league games without conceding.
However, much of their struggles rated its ugly head again against Watford on Monday, and if the Albion defend like they did at Vicarage Road, they are certainly in for a real mauling against Michael Carrick’s rampant Boro side.
To achieve success in the Championship, defensive solidity is of paramount importance as holding a solid base at the back allows for more opportunities to win games, which hasn’t been the case since the turn of the year for Corberan and his men.
And the Spaniard is totally right in that his side must return to the basics of defending if they are to kickstart their flailing playoff charge once again.
In other West Brom news, Bilic has shared his verdict on Corberan after Watford’s win over the Albion.