Carlos Corberan risks getting big West Brom selection call wrong as starting XI v Birmingham City named
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan recalled Grady Diangana in place of Brandon Thomas-Asante for the big showdown with Birmingham City on Friday (6 October).
Diangana was left out of the XI for the 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek due to illness, meaning Thomas-Asante returned to the starting line-up.
But in the only change from that victory at The Hawthorns, Diangana was preferred to Thomas-Asante up top at St Andrew’s in a bold call by Corberan.
While that was a decision many would have backed before a ball was kicked, Thomas-Asante was a lively presence up top against Wednesday with his joint-team-high four shots [WhoScored].
Thomas-Asante has hardly been in the best of form over the past month, but it cannot be forgotten he began the campaign with three goals and an assist in his first five appearances in all competitions.
Besides, BTA has experience of netting in this West Midlands derby fixture, doing so in last term’s 3-2 home defeat.
When you factor in that Albion’s only goal against Wednesday also came with Thomas-Asante on the field, it makes it a big call from Corberan’s perspective.
Semi Ajayi returned from injury to take a place in the matchday squad, meaning a back three of Kyle Bartley, Cedric Kipre and Erik Pieters, with Darnell Furlong and Matt Phillips again operating as wing-backs.
Corberan has tended to make mass changes when games come in quick succession, but Alex Mowatt, Okay Yokuslu, John Swift and Jed Wallace have also retained their places.
Let’s just hope in a game that is expected to be tight, possibly with just the one goal in it, that going with Diangana over Thomas-Asante pays off.
In other West Brom news, a Sky Sports pundit has predicted the outcome of the match.