Carlos Corberan must drag off Harry Whitwell v Fleetwood Town, West Brom need so much more
West Brom manager Carlos Corberan has to substitute Harry Whitwell at half-time if his side are to turn things around against Fleetwood Town in their EFL Cup first-round tie.
Making his first competitive start for the club at Highbury Stadium, Whitwell was listed as one of the two deeper midfielders alongside Ousmane Diakite but has been anything but defensive-minded thus far.
Popping up frequently in wide areas with good movement, Whitwell has left Diakite and fellow youngster Fenton Heard with far too much to do with the Baggies level at half-time.
The gaps left by Whitwell allowed Fleetwood to spring forward on the break in numbers, equalising through Ryan Graydon just minutes after a smart Mo Faal finish had put Albion 1-0 up.
Whitwell was also nowhere to be seen as Fleetwood broke forward once more through Ronan Coughlan –this time from an Albion corner – to go 2-1 up against the run of play, leaving the Baggies staring down the barrel of an embarrassing first-round exit.
Corberan has taken a clear gamble in selecting such a young side to take on the League Two outfit, and Whitwell is one which hasn’t paid off thus far.
Harry Whitwell to be hooked after poor first-half performance in West Brom v Fleetwood
While not quite anonymous in the Baggies’ five-man midfield at Highbury Stadium, Whitwell hasn’t buzzed around the park on anywhere near the same level as Heard and Diakite.
Right-back Reece Hall was at fault for giving up possession cheaply in the lead-up to Fleetwood’s equaliser, but he had few options in Albion colours to aim at – one of whom should have been Whitwell.
It’s hard to see who Corberan will bring on in Whitwell’s place should he withdraw him at half-time with a bench just as, if not more, youthful than the XI he selected, but it’s clear he needs to do something.
Whitwell is quite clearly a talented player, earning rave reviews for his performances in Premier League 2 for the academy last season, but a run-out against a physically imposing Fleetwood midfield may have been too early for him to be thrown in.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies have engaged in talks to sign a highly-rated midfielder on loan from Serie A.
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