West Brom fans rave about ‘phenomenal’ Derby player in their loss at The Hawthorns
West Brom had one thing to admire after a disappointing defeat against Derby County.
West Brom were defeated at home by Derby County for a second time this season. The first came when Albion crashed out of the Carabao Cup just under a month ago.
Despite the loss, the game was filled with bizarre events from beginning to end. The craziest was when West Brom and Derby players witnessed a pigeon removed from the pitch mid-game.
But even that usual occurrence did not detract from the weight of the defeat that ended the Baggies’ unbeaten run in the Championship.
Nevertheless, West Brom fans still found something to celebrate despite their disappointment.
West Brom fans admire Matt Clarke’s performances
While former Baggies’ forward Andreas Weimann netted the winner against West Brom, Albion supporters singled out Matt Clarke’s stellar showing.
- Clarke made 11 clearances and blocked five shots for the Rams
- The defender won 80 per cent of his aerial duels
- West Brom took 18 shots and had three on target
West Brom fans took to X on Saturday, 13 September, to voice their appreciation for Clarke’s defensive performance.
One fan said: “Matt Clarke was absolutely phenomenal today for Derby by the way.” Another added: “Yeah, he got MotM on DCFC TV coverage. Pretty solid performance at the back.”
Meanwhile, one more said: “Doing my head in, bloke was everywhere.”
Other Albion fans were quick to point out that he was a little rough on West Brom striker Aune Heggebo.
One supporter said: “Got away with far too many on Heggebo though.” While another was quick to point out: “He was solid. Always liked him when he played for us. Pretty handsy with Heggebo though.”
One more added: “Got away with a lot on Heggebo in fairness, but him and Phillips were solid last season.”
What is West Brom’s defensive record this season?
Albion may have been defeated against the Rams, but West Brom’s earlier wins bode well for Mason’s hope to lead West Brom to Premier League promotion.
The Baggies have kept two clean sheets this season, which still puts them among the best in the Championship. Meanwhile, Albion have made just one error, which resulted in a shot on goal.
| Clean sheets | 2 |
| Goals conceeded per game | 0.8 |
| Saves per game | 1.6 |
| Errors leading to a shot | 1 |
| Tackles per game | 13.4 |
| Balls recovered per game | 45.6 |
Meanwhile, West Brom have conceded 0.8 goals per 9, which is impressive considering the Baggies have made 1.6 saves per game.
There is no doubt that Albion’s defensive efforts have helped them in the early stages of the season. But Mason will be looking to improve further with promotion in the back of his mind.
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