Aune Heggebo stars again, but 8/10 unsung hero is the real MOTM – West Brom player ratings vs Sheffield United
West Brom secured a much-needed 2-0 victory against Sheffield United on Friday evening.
Ryan Mason is under severe pressure at West Brom, and the ex-Tottenham coach needed all three points at The Hawthorns.
Aune Heggebo continued his stunning West Brom form with the opener, before Karlan Grant smashed home to put it beyond doubt.
The Baggies stayed composed at the back to see the game out, in what could end up being a huge shift for the beleaguered manager.
Karlan Grant stars in West Brom victory
Grant was the bright spark in West Brom’s loss to Southampton, and that was the case again in his third consecutive start for Albion.
The 28-year-old was a constant danger with five passes into the final third and two chances created as he tried to prove his influence, as per Sofascore, and capped his performance with a stunning strike for the second.
Mason needs the veteran to perform at this level consistently if he is to have any chance of saving his job, as he cannot rely on Heggebo to always bail him out.
He will want as many attackers as possible to be on top form, and Grant looks to have returned to that after a tough campaign last season.
Grant was the unsung hero on this occasion as his Norwegian teammate will take all the plaudits, but his efforts cannot go under the radar.
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Diakhite struggles as West Brom win
Mason was forced to utilise Ousmane Diakite as Alex Mowatt was ruled out with a foot issue.
The Malian international failed to take his opportunity for the second time in a week, as he was also poor in the defeat at St Mary’s last time out.
Against the Blades, he was poor defensively, attempting just three tackles, winning one and winning just three of his seven attempted ground duels, for a 43 per cent success rate.
He had more luck in the air, winning four of the nine battles that he was involved in for a 44 per cent success rate.
However, the most damning stat is the fact that he made two errors leading to shots, which could have been very costly on another night.
However, if he wants to be a regular fixture in the side, with uncertainty over how long Mowatt will be out for, he needs to produce much better performances.
How West Brom players rated vs Sheffield United
Joe Wildsmith – 6
George Campbell – 7
Nat Phillips – 7
Krystian Bielik – 6
Callum Styles – 7
Jayson Molumby – 7
Ousmane Diakhite – 5
Mikey Johnson – 6 (off for Iling-Junior, 89)
Isaac Price – 5 (off for Taylor, 84)
Karlan Grant – 8
Aune Heggebo – 7 (off for Dike, 92)
Substitutes:
Charlie Taylor – N/A
Samuel Iling-Junior – N/A
Daryl Dike – N/A
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