Anthony Onifade

Sat 13 January 2024 16:56, UK

West Brom further strengthened their position in the Championship playoff places with a comfortable 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday (13 January).

Two goals from Brandon Thomas-Asante, Tom Fellows and an own-goal ensured the Baggies picked up their first Championship win in 2024 to give them breathing space between themselves and Sunderland outside the top-six.

Blackburn registered a mere consolation through Jake Garrett’s sublime early second-half strike but barely put up a fight at The Hawthorns as they suffered their fifth successive defeat in the Championship.

And West Brom News has rated the players out of 10 below…

Alex Palmer – 7

A pretty comfortable and uneventful afternoon for the Baggies shot-stopper but pulled off a brilliant save early in the second half when Blackburn were trying to get themselves back in the game but could do nothing about Garrett’s sublime consolation goal.

Darnell Furlong – 7

Caused all sorts of problems for the Blackburn defence down that right flank with his marauding runs and terrific long throws. Another dominant display from Furlong at right-back, again proved why he is Corberan’s go-to man and one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Cedric Kipre – 8

Try and get past Kipre at your peril as the West Brom rock completely dominated the Blackburn defence alongside Bartley at the heart of the Baggies defence. Just when you need the centre-back to do a job against talented attacks, Kipre always comes up trumps. Was guilty of a dangerous challenge in the first half which he was deservedly booked for.

Kyle Bartley – 7

Booked for a dangerous challenge in the first half but that was the only dot on another impressive and solid showing from the senior Baggies defender. Barely gave the Blackburn attack a sniff and is forming one of the Championship’s most dominant and formidable defensive partnerships with Kipre. When Bartley plays, West Brom are always in with a chance.

Conor Townsend – 6

Townsend has looked a solid presence at left-back in recent weeks but he was pretty abject on Saturday afternoon as Blackburn’s Andrew Moran gave him a tough game. Whipped in a brilliant cross that led to the fourth but will certainly need to improve defensively

Okay Yokuslu – 7

Just like Bartley, when Yokuslu is on the field of play for West Brom, they are always in with a chance of winning crucial points in their playoff pursuit and he was brilliant yet again against Blackburn. Always available in possession, keeping things ticking over especially when building from the back but it’s his ability to screen the defence and break up play that makes him the best at what he does at The Hawthorns.

Alex Mowatt – 7

Now firmly an undroppable presence in that West Brom midfield. Another solid and tremendous showing from the Baggies midfielder. Registered two key passes, and completed 100 per cent of his crosses and 100 per cent of his long balls. Picture-perfect display.

John Swift – 4

An unusual stinker for Swift who proved largely ineffective in his usual advanced playmaker role but must be given the benefit of the doubt given he’s just returned from another injury absence. Needs a run of games to find his mercurial best again.

Adam Reach – 7

A surprise inclusion when the teams were announced at the start of the game but certainly more than proved his worth to Corberan with a solid display in Grady Diangana’s absence. Certainly isn’t the flashiest or one of the more skillful players but Reach is incredibly efficient and he delivered just that.

Brandon Thomas-Asante – 9

Grabbed his ninth and tenth goals of the season with a superb strike drilled into the bottom corner from the angle and a brilliant poacher’s goal in the second half, just the sort of finishes Carlos Corberan needs to see consistently from him in their playoff pursuit. MOTM, sublime.

Tom Fellows – 8

Grabbed his second goal within a week for West Brom after brilliantly finding space from a corner while marked to nod into an empty net. Provided brilliant energy and endeavour out of possession and was involved with everything good about West Brom all afternoon. Stunning player.

Substitutes

Pipa (on for Reach 58′) – 6

Nathaniel Chalobah (on for Swift 58′) – 7

Jed Wallace (on for Yokuslu 77′) N/A

Daryl Dike (on for Thomas-Asante 77′) – N/A

Caleb Taylor (on for Kipre 77′) – N/A

In other West Brom news, two senior players could be set for an exit from The Hawthorns in January, one other youth product attracting plenty of interest already.