Conor Townsend and Adam Reach must be dragged off with 3/10, Alex Palmer shines with 7/10 – West Brom half-time ratings v Norwich City
West Brom made hard work of their Championship playoff task against Norwich City on Saturday entering the half-time break 1-0 down at Carrow Road.
The Albion were looking to build on from their impressive 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns on 13 January) and strengthen their position in the playoff places when they travelled to Carrow Road.
Josh Sargeant put the home side ahead after a tremendous counter-attack which caught the Baggies defence out. It could have gotten worse for Carlos Corberan’s men if not for Palmer’s excellent saves with plenty of work to do to turn this game around in the second half.
And West Brom News has rated the players at half-time out of 10 below…
Alex Palmer – 7
Will be mightily disappointed the way in which Sargeant’s shot easily squeezed past him in the West Brom goal. Given his tremendous displays recently, it was a surprise to see Palmer concede the way he did. But redeemed himself with some stunning saves that keeps his side well in the game.
Darnell Furlong – 4
Didn’t have much to do in all honesty and was guilty of some poor passing in the final third when the Baggies tried to claw themselves back into the tie.
Cedric Kipre – 4
Kipre has been the star of the show at the heart of the West Brom defence in recent weeks but his poor positioning lead to Sargeant’s goal.
Kyle Bartley – 4
Bartley has been so key alongside Kipre at centre-back but looked susceptible and shaky all half for West Brom which was further highlighted by his yellow card, fouling his man after being caught out by his woeful defensive positioning.
Conor Townsend – 3
Given the runaround on that left flank as Norwich’s Jack Stacey and Jonathan Rowe completely bamboozled him with excellent movement and positioning up against him and he was partly to blame for the first goal alongside Kipre. May be dragged off for Pipa.
Okay Yokuslu – 5
Broke up play well when Norwich flew forward in attack but was certainly guilty of some slack passing when trying to instigate attacks for the Baggies. Very uncharacteristic of him because when Yokuslu is off form, West Brom are off it too and it showed.
Alex Mowatt – 7
Has formed a tremendous partnership with Yokuslu in recent weeks and certainly shined in the first half winning 100 per cent of his ground duels and 100 per cent of his aerial duels while completing 92 per cent of his passes [SofaScore]. Will be urging his team on in the second half.
John Swift – 6
A fairly quiet half for West Brom’s most innovative final third outlet and if the Baggies are to turn this around, he will be very key to it. Still trying to find his feet and form after frustrating injury niggles in recent weeks. Tried to conjure up some magic late in the half with some excellent dribbling and a stunning pass for Furlong but the opportunity came to nothing.
Jed Wallace – 3
Nowhere to be seen all half for West Brom in an abject and non-existent display from the senior Baggies figure but Carlos Corberan will be hard-pressed to drag him off given his telling and proven influence.
Brandon Thomas-Asante – 4
Offered no service whatsoever but recent form suggests he only needs a couple of chances to rescue West Brom so a big half is needed. Could well have bagged the equaliser with an excellent finish but it was correctly ruled out for handball.
Adam Reach – 3
Must be dragged off alongside Townsend. Completely given the runaround by the Norwich City attackers on that left-hand side and offered nothing going forward.
Substitutes
Nathaniel Chalobah (on for Yokuslu 36′)
In other West Brom news, Lewis Cox has revealed how the Baggies will spend the money raised by the sale of Taylor Gardner-Hickman
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