4/10 Brandon Thomas-Asante stinks, Okay Yokuslu shines with 8/10 – West Brom player ratings v Leicester City
West Brom missed the chance to go third in the Championship table as they suffered a dramatic late defeat to Leicester City at The Hawthorns on Saturday (2 December).
The Foxes took the lead inside the 71st minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall converted Wilfried Ndidi’s brilliant cross from the byline.
West Brom summer addition Josh Maja thought he grabbed a point for the Baggies but Leicester City went up the other end with a clinical counterattack when Dewsbury-Hall squared for Harry Winks in the box to grab a crucial late winner for the Championship table-toppers.
West Brom News has rated the players out of 10 below, with help from SofaScore…
Alex Palmer – 6
Could do absolutely nothing when Stephen Mavididi hit the post in the first. Had Furlong not blocked the shot, it could well have crept in. Other than that, proved a steady presence when building from the back and when keeping his defence alert on set-pieces. Made a terrific save from Ndidi but could do nothing about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 71st-minute opener and the late winner.
Darnell Furlong – 7
Two tremendous blocks in the first half when Mavididi was converging on Palmer’s goal. Has proven an absolutely solid and dogged component for Corberan in recent weeks and his displays at right-back have grown incredibly with every start. Recorded two clearances and two blocks, and won 75% of his ground duels in the first half.
Ended the match winning seven duels, four clearances and winning four tackles but at the crucial moment, couldn’t help his team hang on to a draw late on.
Cedric Kipre – 7
The way Kipre has grown into one of the first names in the teamsheet for Corberan, months after his West Brom looked completely shot is nothing short of remarkable. Arguably one of the best players for the Baggies in another solid and masterful showing at the heart of the defence, without the experienced Kyle Bartley alongside him. He will be disappointed by the way West Brom conceded the winner. Unlucky.
Semi Ajayi – 6
Was sloppy on the ball for much of the first half but grew into the game and was solid when he needed to be. Whenever West Brom loses Bartley to injury, Corberan is never overly concerned as Ajayi is more than capable to fill in when needed. It’s how the Nigerian international can trump Bartley over a sustained period for a start in Corberan’s XI.
Could do nothing about Dewsbury-Hall’s opener, however, and given his qualities in the air, the fact that he was nowhere to be seen in order to deal with Ndidi’s cross is largely disappointing.
Conor Townsend – 6
Townsend like many of his teammates has proven a solid presence in the West Brom backline in recent and was rarely troubled in the first half, winning 100% of his duels. Wasn’t his fault when Ndidi was given the freedom of B71 to provide the opener but the winger on his side of the pitch which was Sarmiento. Got to have words with him about that.
Okay Yokuslu – 8
When you need Yokuslu to sure things up in front of the defence, he always delivers and he did much of that in the first half winning two of his three ground duels and recording one interception. Kept things ticking over in possession too, completing 100% of his long balls, registering one key pass and 96% of his passes. A clear candidate for man of the match because of his dominance in the middle.
Alex Mowatt – 6
Looked assured in the middle of the park, winning six of his duels and successfully completed 90% of his passes but other than that, he failed to add any invention and ingenuity in the middle third before going off with 15 minutes to go.
Matt Phillips – 5
Just when you thought Phillips has steered clear of his frustrating niggles, another one hits him yet again just before half-time. Looked very solid before his injury, winning three of his duels but didn’t muster any creative opportunities in attack, failing with 100% of his crosses, and a shot off target all whilst completing just 60% of his passes.
Let’s hope yet another injury isn’t too serious. Huge blow if it is.
Grady Diangana – 5
Has emerged as West Brom’s most dangerous player in recent weeks but looked far from it in the first half. Tried to sneak an easy penalty out of the referee but failed miserably. Failed with 100% of his dribbles, and lost 100% of his three ground duels but still managed one key pass. Other than that, he was kept quiet considerably by James Justin. Certainly no one of his best games this season, arguably one of his worst.
Jeremy Sarmiento – 5
Scored the winner against Cardiff in the week but was largely ineffective today. Nowhere to be seen for much of the match but Corberan will certainly give him plenty of grace seeing as he’s just got back from injury. Fell asleep when Ndid was allowed to run clear and cross for Dewsbury-Hall’s opener.
Brandon Thomas-Asante – 4
There’s got to be a particular reason why Thomas-Asante proves non-existent when he starts most games. It was the same old story against Leicester as he rarely provided the energy and thrust Corberan’s men needed in attack. Maybe it’s because of the lack of service to him but when things aren’t going for you in attack, you make sure you contribute in defence.
BTA failed to, losing 100% of his ground duels, 100% of his aerial duels and only touched the ball 13 times with just under five passes all game. He stank out B71 again, poor.
Subs
John Swift (on for Phillips 44′) – 6
Josh Maja (on for Sarmiento 75′) – Scored the crucial and timely equaliser. Right place, right time but so unlucky to be on the losing team in the end – 7
Tom Fellows (on for Diangana 75′) – 5
Jayson Molumby (on for Mowatt 75′) – 5
Nathaniel Chalobah (on for Yokuslu 85′) – N/A
In other West Brom news, Guochuan Lai appears to be very close to an exit from the Hawthorns amid a recent development involving a prospective takeover.