West Brom player ratings v Rotherham: Adam Reach shines with 9/10 in Hawthorns win
West Brom boosted their chances of finishing in the Championship playoff places with a comfortable 2-0 win over Rotherham United at The Hawthorns.
Carlos Corberan’s side took the lead through Brandon Thomas-Asante midway through the first half on Wednesday (10 April) before John Swift converted from the spot following a controversial penalty decision.
The Baggies never needed to get out of first gear as the Millers produced little to no attacking threat throughout the contest, but the win sees Albion move nine points clear of seventh-placed Coventry City.
West Brom News have rated the players out of 10;
Alex Palmer – 6
Probably the quietest night the 27-year-old has had between the sticks in a West Brom shirt this season. The Baggies stopper didn’t have a save to make in the contest and kept it simple with the ball at his feet without ever really having anything to do.
Darnell Furlong – 5
The right-back didn’t have loads to defensively but did lose a couple of his duels. Came close to finding the net when he nearly turned in Reach’s cross but didn’t manage to make a connection and made a few scrappy clearances. By no means a bad game for Furlong, he was just one of the Baggies’ quieter men.
Kyle Bartley – 7
It was by no means the toughest evening of the 32-year-old’s career as he had very little to do out of possession and kept it simple with the ball at his feet. Won the duels he had to, although they were few and far between and marshalled the backline in his typically commanding fashion.
Cedric Kipre – 6
Despite Rotherham’s woes going forward, Kipre was given a busy evening by Cafu and Sam Nombe who repeatedly tried to physically battle the Baggies’ centre-back. Kipre dealt with what he had to do and never really appeared to get out of second gear.
Adam Reach – 9
A slightly surprising inclusion at left-back, but justified his selection with an excellent delivery to set up Thomas-Asante’s opener. Posed a constant threat down the left wing with numerous threatening balls into the penalty area that had the Rotherham defence in a bit of a panic. Defensively, the 31-year-old seemed to win every single battle in a near-perfect showing at The Hawthorns.
Okay Yokuslu – 7
The Turkish midfielder was his usual self and made a vital block early in the second half to deny Oliver Rathbone’s driven effort from the edge of the box. Won basically every duel he entered and maintained possession well before being substituted in the second half.
Yann M’Vila – 5
A first start for the Frenchman in West Brom colours and while had a few rusty moments, the 33-year-old didn’t look completely out of place. There were a couple of reckless passes and a few heavy first touches that would have had Corberan panicking slightly in the dugout. While by no means a bad first start for Albion, you wouldn’t expect to see him maintain his place if the playoff final was tomorrow.
Tom Fellows – 6
As he so often is, the Baggies academy graduate was a livewire down the right wing where he didn’t give his opposite number a moment to relax. Started the game with a couple of electric runs and produced some threatening balls into the area, but his impact on the clash faded before he was substituted in the second half.
John Swift – 7
The 28-year-old should have had more than his one goal from the penalty spot as he spurned an excellent chance early in proceedings following some good work from Fellows. Converted the spot-kick calmly even if it was awarded slightly fortunately and was genuinely measured and effective in his display.
Will West Brom sign Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston permanently this summer?
Mikey Johnston – 6
The Celtic loanee was his typical energetic self and played a beautiful ball in the build-up to the Baggies’ opener as he created a couple of good chances. Didn’t quite have the impact on proceedings that he has shown previously however and was substituted by Corberan halfway through the second half. Hopefully, a goalless game here and there will make him more affordable this summer.
Brandon Thomas-Asante – 7
Having got into double figures for goals against Watford, the centre forward couldn’t miss when the ball found him midway through the first half. Despite not seeing much of the ball, the 25-year-old led the line excellently with a number of strong runs and battling moments but should have scored a hattrick as he spurned a selection of second-half chances.
Substitutes:
Semi Ajayi – 6
Grady Diangana – 6
Nathaniel Chalobah – 6
Matt Phillips – 7
Josh Maja – 6
In other West Brom news, Justin Allen has been left baffled by a new update involving Corberan at The Hawthorns
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