Semi Ajayi has struggled for minutes at West Brom
Semi Ajayi has struggled for minutes at West Brom
Match

Carlos Corberan selection error amid Semi Ajayi decision - West Brom starting XI v Stoke City

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Carlos Corberan will hope that his decision to drop Semi Ajayi from the starting XI will not come back to haunt him as West Brom face Stoke City on Saturday (6 April).

The Nigeria international was finally handed his first start since the 1-0 victory over Leeds United in December last time out, replacing Cedric Kipre to partner up with Kyle Bartley in defence.

Despite conceding twice in the 2-2 draw with Watford on Monday 1 April, Ajayi was cool, calm and collected in the centre of defence, so will feel very hard done by to miss out against Stoke.

Kipre's last match is not one he will want to remember, getting carded and being hooked after 73 minutes during the draw against Millwall. However, his overall performances this season have been commendable.

With this in mind, the defender comes back into the side to face Stoke, as the Baggies announced their lineup via X on Saturday.

Alex Palmer remains in goal, protected by a back four of Darnell Furlong, Kipre, Bartley and Conor Townsend, with Ajayi being dropped to the bench.

The midfield is made up of the ever-present duo of Okay Yokuslu and Alex Mowatt, with Jed Wallace, Grady Diangana, Mikey Johnston and Brandon Thomas-Asante forming the attack.

Carlos Corberan makes defensive blunder with Semi Ajayi decision for West Brom

Ajayi was extremely solid against the Hornets, with his accurate passing and faultless tackling providing much-needed stability amid chaos at The Hawthorns.

Having only started 10 Championship matches this season, the 30-year-old will have hoped that his performance was just the start of a run of games in Corberan's starting XI.

This is not to be the case, though, dropping down to the bench to make way for Kipre again. The French defender is, by no means, a poor defender, but Ajayi must feel the decision is a very harsh one.

Corberan will be hoping that his decision to switch up the centre-back pairing once again will not come back to haunt him, with a spot in the playoffs currently at stake.

A victory against Stoke could be vital in the end-of-season run-in as Norwich City show no signs of slowing down in their charge to take the fifth spot from the Baggies.

In other West Brom news, a pundit has tipped Karlan Grant to quit The Hawthorns this summer.

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West Bromwich Albion
Semi Ajayi
Stoke City
Carlos Corberan
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