Mikey Johnston and Tom Fellows excellent, Erik Pieters poor – West Brom ratings v Coventry City
West Brom started fast but were holding on late in a game they should have made comfortable in a 2-1 win over Coventry City.
Mikey Johnston opened the scoring in just the sixth minute with a stunning solo goal, as he cut inside off the left and fired an unstoppable strike inside the far post, and Grady Diangana doubled the lead in the 36th minutes with a composed finish after great work by Tom Fellows.
The Baggies were relatively comfortable for an hour in the face of a pedestrian Sky Blues performance until Cedric Kipre, good up until then, fouled Casey Palmer in the box and Haji Wright pulled one back from the spot but they held on to win.
Here, West Brom News rates the Baggies players out of 10 for their performances at The Hawthorns.
Alex Palmer – 6
Not overly involved. Didn’t have to make a save before the break but saw two strikes whistle inches wide of his post. Equal to the shot when Coventry finally got one on target after 55 minutes. Sent the wrong way by Wright from the spot.
Darnell Furlong – 6
Saw plenty of the ball with West Brom largely given the run of The Hawthorns before the break when in possession. Almost let the visitors in on a rare Coventry attack as the ball sat up off his heel for a strike straight at Palmer.
Cedric Kipre – 5
Good game from the defender right up until he through it away and conceded a stonewall penalty to let the visitors back in. Up until then he’d proven a strong presence against Ellis Simms despite giving up a decent amount of pace to the young striker. Came out on top in multiple one on one duals to provide stability at the back when defensive teammates looked more erratic, before he joined them with the foul that could have surrendered a crucial win.
Erik Pieters struggles in fifth consecutive West Brom start
Erik Pieters – 4
Struggled. The 35-year-old has performed well this term but it was a surprise that Carlos Corberan started him for a fifth-straight game, and showed why in a shaky first half where most of the threatening Coventry attacks came through him. Improved after the break as the Albion played with the benefit of a two-goal cushion but immediately looked stretched again when the lead was halved.
Conor Townsend (off for Reach ’65) – 5
One of the rougher outings from the home side. Booked after just 20 minutes for giving away a free kick in a dangerous position and better going forward than defensively on the night. Looked to have picked up a knock before he was replaced.
Alex Mowatt – 8
Two different performances in the middle. Able to play in third gear at most during the first 45 minutes as Coventry put him under no pressure at all on the ball. Pretty solid display, albeit in strangely straightforward circumstances. Upped the intensity for the unexpected fight late on well.
Okay Yokuslu (off for Chalobah ’70) – 6
Similar to Mowatt he was able to play at close to walking pace for long periods and largely looked very comfortable as the visitors stood off him, but got caught a couple of times on the rare occasions when they didn’t. On the receiving end of a couple of awkward fouls.
Mikey Johnston continues stunning West Brom form since January Celtic loan
Tom Fellows (off for Bartley ’80) – 8
Another sharp game in attack. Lively down the right from the get-go and laid the second goal on a plate for Diangana after leaving Jay Dasilva for dead when attacking the full-back one on one. Perhaps not up to the eye-catching standard of Johnston on the opposite flank but proved why it was so key to get him signed to a new deal. Sacrificed as Corberan looked to shut up shop late on.
Grady Diangana (off for Weimann ’69) – 7
Not his best game for West Brom but made a crucial contribution. Read Fellows perfectly to arrive on time in the box and give the keeper no chance with a lovely finish for the second, but was also caught in possession a few times as he appeared to be virtually the only West Brom player who Coventry pressured properly in possession.
Mikey Johnston (off for Swift ’65) – 9 Man of the Match
Proving an inspired midseason acquisition. Perfect start from the Celtic loanee as he created the opening goal himself with great work on the left before smashing home an excellent finish. Looked to be playing at a faster tempo than anyone else on the pitch for most of his time on the pitch as he looked a threat whenever he got the ball.
Jed Wallace – 7
Put a shift in for his side as usual. Quieter than he would normally be in the first half as the captain was again obliged to play out of position as a false-nine, but his movement to the near post as the ball came past him helped open the finish up for Diangana perfectly. Increased in prominence as he pushed out wide after the break and looked sharp on the ball.
Substitutions
Adam Reach (on for Townsend ’65) – 7
Decent industrial shift put in during the scrappy late exchanges.
John Swift (on for Johnston ’65) – 6
Combined fairly well with his attacking teammates before the Baggies needlessly let the Sky Blues back into it, then just about did enough defensively.
Andi Weimann (on for Diangana ’69) – 5
Barely registered his presence up front as West Brom were defending a slim advantage late on as his major impact since arriving on loan got no opportunity to be reproduced.
Nathaniel Chalobah (on for Yokuslu ’70) – 5
More mobile than Yokuslu and certainly put himself about late on but careless in possession at times after the game got uncomfortable.
Kyle Bartley (on for Fellows ’80) – 7
Provided some badly-needed calm at the back. Likely to start against QPR.
In other West Brom news, Shilen Patel issues Premier League promotion assessment as takeover goes through.
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