James Murray

Tue 24 October 2023 22:20, UK

West Brom secured a comfortable victory over 10-man QPR in the Championship on Tuesday (24 October).

It was a steady first half with very little action from either side before the game sprang into life after the break at the Hawthorns as Jimmy Dunne saw red for the visitors.

Brandon Thomas-Asante scored from the penalty spot following a foul on Grady Diangana, with the latter then grabbing a goal of his own to secure a 2-0 win for Albion.

Here, West Brom News rates the players for their performances against QPR.

Alex Palmer – 6

The keeper didn’t have to do a single thing of note throughout the game, with the Rs failing to have a shot on target. You could say that is a testament to the way Palmer organised his defence, but the visitors were extremely poor going forward.

Cedric Kipre (Off for Taylor ’86) – 6

Kipre looked to play the ball forward quickly and offer some support for Darnell Furlong down the right. He made a superb block to deny a goalbound effort from Ilias Chair on 52 minutes to keep the scoreline level. That was a big moment and the result could have been different if the midfielder’s strike had gone in.

Kyle Bartley – 6

The centre-back was solid once again in the middle of the defence, proving why he has been picked over Semi Ajayi lately. Bartley won 11 out of the 13 duels he was involved in as he didn’t give the QPR forwards a sniff [Sofascore].

Erik Pieters (Off for Pipa) – 6

It was a quiet night for the Dutchman, just like it was for his fellow defenders. He perhaps let a ball come in from the left too easily that led to Chair’s chance in the second half, but that was his only real fault in what was a decent performance.

Darnell Furlong – 5

The right wing-back didn’t have to do too much defensively as the visitors pretty much offered nothing going forward. He looked to get up and support Diangana down the right, but he didn’t have much of an impact as he gave the ball away on a few occasions.

Jed Wallace – 3

The captain should have done better when played in behind by Thomas-Asante in the first half as his ball into the box didn’t beat the first man. He offered very little for his side going forward and had just 34 touches of the ball in what was a disappointing performance. The winger also only had a 70 per cent pass accuracy.

Okay Yokuslu – 6

The midfielder had a solid game in the middle of the park without doing too much. Yokuslu won most of his battles and looked to move the ball on quickly to the attacking players.

Nathaniel Chalobah (Off for Molumby ’75) – 7

The midfielder hit an effort from the edge of the box almost out for a throw-in, showing how little quality was on display in the first half. But he improved in the second half and set up Diangana’s goal in style, as he jinked past players and rolled the ball across the box for the winger to tap into an empty net.

Matt Phillips (Off for Fellows ’75) – 6

Another one of the defensive players that had a solid night. He didn’t do too much going forward, either, but he did his job at the back.

Brandon Thomas-Asante – 7

The forward worked hard in the first half, but didn’t have any opportunities to get on the scoresheet. Thomas-Asante played a nice ball in behind to Wallace, but he couldn’t make anything of it. He smashed in an excellent penalty in the second half, giving Asmir Begovic no chance. Continued to work hard for his side and was important in seeing them secure the three points.

Grady Diangana – 7

Diangana was the best player for the Baggies on the back of his second-half performance. He won a penalty after showing good skill before being taken down by Kenneth Paal on the right-hand side of the box. Just minutes later, the winger unleashed a curling effort that he was unfortunate to see come back off the post. But he got the goal he deserved when Chalobah cut it back to him and he was in the right place at the right time to guide the ball into the back of the net.

Subs

Tom Fellows (On for Phillips ’75) – N/A

Jayson Molumby (On for Chalobah ’75) – N/A

Caleb Taylor (On for Kipre ’86) – N/A

Pipa (On for Pieters ’86) – N/A

In other West Brom news, Corberan has revealed the club’s summer plans to sell an academy star on loan before his injury setback.