West Brom player ratings vs Blackburn: Isaac Price runs the show, 5/10 looks shaky
Ryan Mason’s West Brom tenure started in the best possible way as his side beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 on Saturday.
Isaac Price scored the all-important winner, capitalising on a scramble in the box to poke the ball home in the 15th minute.
And the Baggies could have had another shortly after, but Aune Heggebo’s low drive was saved well by the Blackburn goalkeeper.
Darnell Furlong was sent off as Blackburn looked to get back into the game, but West Brom held strong to emerge victorious.
Price stars vs Blackburn
Price impressed upon arriving at The Hawthorns in January before dropping off, but the midfielder looked like a new player completely against Blackburn.
The 21-year-old was everywhere in attack for Mason’s side, constantly causing issues for the Rovers backline.
His goal was well taken, and the Northern Ireland international may well have added to it in the second half.
| Isaac Price vs Blackburn Rovers | |
| Goals | 1 |
| Chances created | 2 |
| Successful dribbles | 2 |
| Recoveries | 6 |
Price again broke through the middle following the break, but his effort was saved well by Balazs Toth.
The midfielder created chances for his teammates too – it was Price’s break down the right wing that led to Heggebo’s first-half shot.
The 21-year-old looks to have taken to Mason’s philosophy seamlessly, and is expected to play a big part for West Brom this season.
Transfer uncertainty shows effect on Torbjorn Heggem
Torbjorn Heggem has been the subject of significant interest from Bologna in recent weeks.
The Serie A side failed with an initial bid for the defender, who West Brom are expected to hold out for around £10million for.
But the move has not been progressed since, and Heggem was selected from the start against Blackburn.
The uncertainty is sure to have taken a toll on the 26-year-old in recent weeks, and early on, it showed.
Just seconds before the half-time whistle sounded, Yuki Ohashi caught the Norwegian sleeping, and dispossessed him just outside the West Brom penalty box.
Heggem, in his attempts to get back, looked to have caught the striker and brought him down, but the referee waved to play on, despite Blackburn’s protests.
The defender would return to his best after, but it was a potentially damaging moment that may well have changed the outlook of the game.
West Brom player ratings vs Blackburn
Josh Griffiths – 8
Darnell Furlong – 4
Nat Phillips – 7
Torbjorn Heggem – 5
Callum Styles – 6
Jayson Molumby – 6
Alex Mowatt – 5
Tom Fellows – 5
Isaac Price – 9
Karlan Grant – 4
Aune Heggebo – 6
Substitutes
Jed Wallace – 5
Ousmane Diakite – 5
George Campbell -5
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