Nat Phillips reveals what worked perfectly for West Brom vs QPR after struggles
West Brom had two set-piece goals to thank for their much-needed Championship win over Queens Park Rangers on Monday.
In their final game of 2025, West Brom ran out 2-1 winners against QPR at The Hawthorns.
Many West Brom fans were calling for Ryan Mason to be sacked after Albion’s 2-1 defeat to Bristol City on Boxing Day, but the Baggies boss found three points when he needed them most.
QPR felt as though George Campbell’s opening goal should’ve been ruled out, as the American international clambered over the top of his defender to head home West Brom’s first goal of the game, but referee Lewis Smith waved away their protests.
Nat Phillips makes interesting West Brom set-piece reveal
Both of West Brom‘s goals against QPR came from set-piece situations, with Campbell’s opener coming from a corner, before Nat Phillips powered home a header from a Mikey Johnston free-kick on 55 minutes.
As a result, 10 of West Brom’s 28 goals this season have now been from set-pieces, and that’s not a coincidence, according to Phillips.
Speaking via West Brom’s official X account post-match, the centre-back said: “It’s (attacking set-pieces) something that we’ve worked on throughout the season.
“I think early in the season we recognised that we weren’t particularly threatening. There wasn’t a great deal of organisation behind them.
“So we’ve worked on that a lot throughout the season, and it’s nice to see it paying off at the moment.”
- Read more: West Brom fans wanted Ryan Mason to play with 10 men after what ‘awful’ player did vs QPR
How West Brom’s set-piece goals compare to rest of Championship
Phillips’ admission is somewhat of a double-edged sword, as it perhaps throws a slight piece of shade towards staff regarding a lack of organisation and attention to detail, but also shows that this has now been addressed and is an element of the game they are taking seriously.
But are they improving fast enough, and just how much of a threat do West Brom carry from set-pieces now?
As per WhoScored, Coventry are far and away the Championship’s best from these situations, with 21 goals scored from them so far this season.
- West Brom have taken 22 of their 31 points at The Hawthorns this season
- Nat Phillips is now third top scorer with three behind Isaac Price (five) and Aune Heggebo (eight)
- Albion are seven points off the play-off places
Derby are second on 12, with Charlton and Sheffield United tied on 11. Then you find West Brom, Southampton, Birmingham, Millwall and Oxford all locked on 10 apiece, meaning the Baggies are technically tied-fourth for the most set-piece goals in the second tier this term.
Take into account that West Brom only scored 12 goals from set-pieces throughout the 2024-25 season, and you can see just how more dangerous Albion are from those situations this term.
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