Alex Mowatt anonymous as Tom Fellows stars – West Brom player ratings v Southampton
West Brom played out a competitive goalless draw with Southampton to leave the play off semi final level after 90 minutes at The Hawthorns.
A fast start from the Albion gave way to a tight first half with Alex Palmer’s save from Flynn Downes and Alex McCarthy’s from a Grady Diangana header after great work from Tom Fellows the best chances.
Fellows again set up the same teammate who perhaps should have done better in space in the box moments before Palmer pulled off an even better stop to keep a deflected effort out as the game ticked down towards a stalemate.
Here, West Brom News rates the Baggies players out of 10 for their performances at The Hawthorns.
Alex Palmer – 8
Vital stops in the key moments. Excellent save from Flynn Downes after 20 minutes but flapped at a corner just before the break to betray some play off nerves. Made the save of the game to adjust to a deflection off Bartley late on.
Darnell Furlong – 6
Suspect defensively in an uncertain first half but improved all-round in the second. Beaten badly to let Downes in for a big Saints chance and looked like the weak link at the back for West Brom. Responded well after the break and was inches away with a volley on the hour, then got a vital toe in on 75 minutes to halt a chance in his own box.
Kyle Bartley – 7
Strong, composed outing at the back as the captain put in the sort of veteran performance his manager would have hoped for. Sparked concern with an apparent hamstring issue midway through the second period when covering a ball over the top but recovered to see out a good game.
Kyle Bartley and Cedric Kipre a West Brom wall at the back
Cedric Kipre – 7
Imposing figure alongside Bartley as the pair combined to provide excellent control in the centre of the defence and restrict the visitors to few clear-cut openings.
Conor Townsend (off for Reach ’91) – 6
Busy day with Kyle Walker-Peters getting forward down his flank but he combined well offensively with Johnston in an active first 45. Less prominent as the game wore on.
Okay Yokuslu (off for Ajayi ’80) – 7
Solid, composed outing in the centre of a congested midfield where he delivered some necessary calm at times. Appeared to have picked up a knock as he went off.
Alex Mowatt – 4
Not appalling but a fairly anonymous display in the midfield where he was unable to make any particularly telling contributions despite playing the 90 minutes. Curled a second-half free kick wide from a good position.
Tom Fellows (off for Wallace ’81) – 9 (Man of the Match)
Great work from the youngster. Kept Jed Wallace out of the starting XI and justified the decision by Corberan with an excellent display on the wing. Energetic start and showed good composure on the ball on a big occasion. Produced excellent work out wide to beat his man and fashion the best Baggies chances, including twice for Diangana, and looked the most likely way the home side would find a way through.
Grady Diangana – 7
Threatening all round game but not strong enough with the end product at the key moments. Looked like he was about to open the scoring as he rose highest in traffic to power a header down midway through the first half but directed it too close to McCarthy, and fired straight at the keeper when found by Fellows in a perfect position with what was surely the best West Brom opportunity.
Tom Fellows a major threat for West Brom out wide
Mikey Johnston (off M’Vila ’81) – 7
Decent but certainly not at his brilliant best. Purposeful opening and proved to be a regular avenue of attack without finishing off moves like he has proven he can. Put Southampton defenders on the back foot throughout and played some inviting balls over after the break but not the game-changer he has often been since January.
Brandon Thomas-Asante (off for Swift ’81) – 6
Outnumbered up front against three centre-backs. Busy from the off and good harrying but wasted an excellent early chance by having a shot blocked instead of finding an open Mowatt in the box. Faded as the game went on.
Substitutions
Semi Ajayi (on for Yokuslu ’80) – 6
No major impact after his late introduction.
Yann M’Vila (on for Johnston ’81) – 7
Injected some immediate energy to force Southampton into an error at the back that almost let West Brom in but perhaps too late to make the difference.
John Swift (on for Thomas-Asante ’81) – 6
Didn’t make a great deal of difference.
Jed Wallace (on for Fellows’ 82) – 6
Caught McCarthy in possession after M’Vila’s pressing but unable to make a telling late contrubution.
Adam Reach (on for Townsend ’91) – 6
In other West Brom news, the Albion have been backed to complete an “absolutely sensational” transfer this summer.
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