Alex Iwobi sends two-word message to Semi Ajayi after West Brom win v Swansea
Alex Iwobi was among those to congratulate Semi Ajayi after the defender paved the way for West Brom’s 3-2 victory over Swansea City with a well-taken strike.
Albion put back-to-back losses in all competitions to start the season behind them thanks to a tense win at The Hawthorns on Saturday [12 August], with the Baggies racing three goals ahead before being made to hold on for the final 10 minutes.
Ajayi scored the only goal of the first half with a powerful finish after Swansea failed to deal with a long throw, earning praise from Sky Sports pundit Alan McInally for the clinical nature of the finish.
The 29-year-old was later inundated with comments from current and former team-mates on social media after uploading an image of his goal on his personal Instagram account.
Nigeria colleague Iwobi, who like Ajayi spent time at Arsenal when younger, was among those to hail the centre-back as he commented: “Big Shem!!”
Scoring touch
Ajayi is in the West Brom side to stop opposition players from scoring, but he has showed down the years that he is more than capable of netting himself.
Indeed, his strike against Swansea – particularly sweet given his Cardiff City past – was the London native’s 17th league goal since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, including a couple in the Premier League.
As Kasimpasa ace Kenneth Omeruo joked on Instagram, Ajayi can often look more like a striker than a defender when the ball falls to his feet in the opposition box.
The former Rotherham United player offers so much more to Albion, though, including his passing ability – no other player has averaged more passes (41) per game across the opening two Championship matchdays [WhoScored].
However, having conceded two goals in all three of their matches in all competitions this season, West Brom boss Carlos Corberan could now do with Ajayi tightening up at the back in order to keep out opponents.
Should he do that, West Brom will have one of the best all-around defenders anywhere in the division in their ranks.
In other West Brom news, Corberan has provided an update on Brandon Thomas-Asante’s fitness ahead of next week’s trip to Leeds United.