Carlos Corberan calls for West Brom to cut out defensive errors after Huddersfield frustration
West Brom boss Carlos Corberan has called for his team to tighten up in defence, after conceding another two goals in the late loss to Huddersfield on 2 September.
The Spaniard was clearly frustrated at his side’s defensive incapabilities, having conceded two goals in all but one game so far this season, failing to keep a clean sheet after five games.
He also noted that they were having the same issues regardless of whether they played with a back four or five, suggesting the confidence of his defence would be the determining factor to cut out the errors.
Speaking to the Express and Star following Saturday’s late loss, Corberan stated: “I have to review the fact that only against Leeds we’ve conceded only one goal. In all the other games we have conceded two goals – and if you concede two goals in the Championship you are not going to win many football games.
“It is something we need to correct because this has happened playing with four, playing with five, we need to improve the feeling, especially from the back, to defend better,” he said, adding: “and to attack better too, to not give the opponents the option.”
The West Brom boss referenced Josh Maja’s missed chance that led directly to the Huddersfield counterattack for the winning goal, stating a need for review: “The key moment in the game was the chance we had with Maja, the counter-attack we couldn’t stop and the goal we conceded.
“There is something we need to reflect, we cannot concede two goals, conceding two goals is too much to win a Championship game.”
Work is desperately needed
Despite their form not being too much of a worry in the early stages of this season; two wins, two losses and a draw from five games, the defensive record is certainly an issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later if the aim is to have a successful season.
Nine goals conceded in just five league games is cause for concern, and even in their victories over Middlesbrough and Swansea, the defence never looked solid. This side will need to tighten up, particularly if their seemingly free-scoring form dries up.
Against Swansea in particular, the Baggies looked like they would cruise to a comfortable 3-0 victory, but two late goals from the South Wales side ramped up the pressure. Corberan called at the time for his defence to do better, but there has not been much improvement yet.
On paper, there is a lack of consistent firepower in this side – perhaps the boss’ reason for calling for stronger attacking form to keep them balanced.
The concern is that if their goals dry up, they simply won’t win games. At least if the defence was tight there could be the hope of snatching wins against the run of play, but work needs to be done.
In other West Brom news, the boss sent a message to fans on Twitter following the latest defeat.