West Brom silver lining emerges after heavy FA Cup defeat v Bournemouth
West Brom can take a silver lining from the heavy cloud over their FA Cup exit at Bournemouth, where they were thrashed 5-1 on Saturday.
Josh Maja was absent from the matchday squad at the Vitality Stadium on 11 January as Karlan Grant led the line in what is expected to be Chris Brunt’s final match in interim charge.
Grant was withdrawn in the second half having barely made an impact, with The Albion already well beaten by a Bournemouth side ironically in the market for strikers.
The positive take from the cup hammering on the South Coast is that the Cherries will not be searching The Hawthorns for their centre-forward solution, if at all, with Grant not impressing and Maja out of the reckoning.
January has started abysmally on the injury front for Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who has lost both Evanilson and Enes Unal to significant issues. But based on Saturday, West Brom will not be bothered for any of their players’ services.
West Brom were torn apart in the summer window
The side West Brom had established last season, which reached the play-offs in the Championship, was essentially decimated last summer as the likes of Cedric Kipre, Conor Townsend and Brandon Thomas-Asante all moved on.
Premier League clubs will have monitored Albion’s talent once again this year, with both Maja and Grant having previously impressed in short stints in the top flight.
But Bournemouth – who may have to settle for a striker below Evanilson and Unal in terms of overall ability as they rush for a number nine reinforcement – are now unlikely to be raiding Albion anytime soon.
With the managerial transition still ongoing at The Hawthorns, the focus of the board remains on appointing the right individual to take the club to the next level in good time.
But the key players who are providing the springboard must also be wrapped up and kept throughout January to achieve their outstanding aim of returning to the Premier League.
In other West Brom news, Maja will be delighted after the announcement coming from the FA over a Championship rival.
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