Nat Phillips a defensive dream – Three things learned in West Brom vs Blackburn Rovers
West Brom emerged victorious in their Championship opener against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Isaac Price’s first-half strike was the only goal of the game, with the Baggies holding firm to secure the three points despite Darnell Furlong’s late red card.
Ryan Mason’s side looked to fly out of the blocks in the first half, and a big chance to Aune Heggebo could have had them 2-0 up before half-time.
Blackburn, managed by Valerien Ismael, responded in the second half but domination was largely limited to possession.
Phillips looks an impressive signing
It was clear what West Brom would be getting when they spent around £3.5million to sign Nat Phillips from Liverpool at the start of the summer.
The defender had an impressive season for Derby in the Championship last season, and has some experience of playing in the Premier League for the Reds.
| Nat Phillips | vs Blackburn (H) |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Clearances | 13 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Duels won | 11 |
But the 28-year-old looks to have made a resounding impact instantly at The Hawthorns, impressing particularly on his competitive debut on Saturday.
Phillips won 11 duels and made an outstanding 13 clearances in the game, as West Brom held on to their clean sheet.
West Brom need a full-back after Furlong red
Furlong’s suspension will last for just one game, but it already creates a problem for Mason.
The defender is one of just two natural full-backs at the Englishman’s disposal, with a central defender likely required to shift over.
Furlong, for his part, played well before the challenge that got him his second yellow card, but it seems implausible that the 29-year-old does not have an easily identifiable replacement.
West Brom can fix that in the closing weeks of the window and they will have to, if they do not want this situation to become a recurring theme of the season.
Josh Griffiths pours doubts on goalkeeper signing
West Brom have been expected to sign a goalkeeper this summer, with Alex Palmer’s departure in January yet to be addressed in the market.
But Josh Griffiths’ performance against Blackburn will have given decision-makers at The Hawthorns something to think about.
The goalkeeper made an excellent save to keep West Brom ahead in the first half, and controlled his box excellently, making several big claims as the Baggies hung on to their lead.
Griffiths has had unimpressive performances in pre-season, but this was a strong showing from the shot-stopper.
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