Molumby ridiculous, he’s let West Brom down – 3 talking points v Bristol City
West Brom suffered brutal and potentially costly heartbreak in the West Country on Tuesday night, with a last-gasp 2-1 defeat by Bristol City.
A low-quality first half was followed by a more entertaining second (8 April), though Nahki Wells and Haydon Roberts scored either side of Alex Mowatt‘s equaliser to hand all three points to Liam Manning’s side.
Jayson Molumby was sent off for a rash challenge with the game level at 1-1, as Tony Mowbray’s men must lick their wounds ahead of this weekend’s return to The Hawthorns against Watford.
West Brom News picks out three key factors that can be taken from the agonising loss at Ashton Gate.
Mowbray should have thrown in Josh Griffiths earlier despite error
Griffiths has been patiently awaiting his chance, having already made 33 appearances this season prior to Tuesday night, while on loan at Bristol Rovers.
Upon returning to his former loan city – his time in which cut short due to Alex Palmer’s winter move to Ipswich Town – he had a point to prove to Mowbray and certainly didn’t disappoint – until the 96th minute.
Griffiths, 23, has had to sit and watch Joe Wildsmith provide less than assured performances since Palmer’s exit for the Premier League, with Mowbray somehow persisting with his second-choice goalkeeper for far too long.
Wildsmith’s latest error against Sunderland at the weekend proved decisive, and dug a real dent into the Baggies’ play-off hopes.
Griffiths saved West Brom with two key stops before half-time, with Mowbray’s men having created little at the other end as the first 45 minutes ended goalless, and continued his fine display into the second period.
However, the ‘keeper’s night ended brutally when Roberts’ shot crept underneath him and trickled into the net in what could be a potentially costly mistake – the ruthlessness of the Championship, full scale.
West Brom have no clear identity
Mowbray chose a strange side at Bristol City for this crucial clash. It remains uncertain whether he was playing for the win or the draw – the latter of which there have been far too many.
It’s likely he felt he had to win the game, indicated by his comments about committing more risks in attack.
But it just didn’t look that way in the first half, with square pegs in round holes as Isaac Price operated as some sort of false nine, with Adam Armstrong out wide on the right.
Fans come away from the game scratching their heads at the lack of relative quality and the unclear identity of what looks like a confused team, even if Albion certainly had spells after the break to win a game from which they ended up emerging on the losing side.
The overriding thought is a mere bemusement on how Mowbray is attempting to achieve an improvement in results.
| West Brom – red cards 2024-25 | Date |
| Kyle Bartley v Sheffield Wednesday (H) | 8 February |
| Darnell Furlong v QPR (H) | 8 March |
| Jayson Molumby v Bristol City (A) | 8 April |
Molumby let his teammates down
West Brom now have it all to do when at one point they looked a sure favourite to retain a play-off spot next month.
Bristol City took full advantage of the uncertainty in the Albion side, and more so the fact Mowbray’s men were reduced to 10 just ahead of injury time.
Cometh the eighth of the month, cometh the red card. The Baggies have now seen red on the eighth of the past three months in the Championship. Certainly a horror show for the superstitious among us.
Molumby‘s dangerous challenge was ridiculous, and now he’s banned for three games. Mowbray will be incensed with a midfield man who always has that risk in his locker.
It remains to be seen whether the Irish international will even get back into the side once his ban is up, by which point just two games will remain of the domestic campaign.
Absolutely daft moment, and he’ll know it.