We all knew before this one that a draw would be a good result, although of course also that we needed a win to go back to the top - and we are getting greedy. What we were treated to was a gutsy performance against a side which prioritised retaining possession (which is not to say they made no use of it), leaving us for most of the game chasing shadows and struggling to make use of the ball when we had it, given West Brom’s effective press, obliging us to go long. That we came from behind to get something from the game (for the second time out of four so far) was thanks to a formation change and the subs’ impact, for which Jones takes credit, and disciplined defending, their goal being an unfortunate exception capping off a rather sloppy start to the second half.
The BBC labelled West Brom’s formation as a 4-4-2. In practise it was more like a 4-6-0 with a high press. That they ended up with 71% possession but just three shots on target is a fair reflection of the way they are playing the game. That’s not a criticism, like us they are reshaping and building after flirting with relegation last season. As they should, they play to their strengths. And their set-up can squeeze the life out of the opposition, preventing the back line from playing out of defence. That we didn’t buckle, changed formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 and created a decent chance to level the game, is in turn to our credit.
The team was always going to throw up some tough choices for Jones. And there were changes, not all enforced. In front of Okonkwo would be McNamara, Jones, new boy Bindon and Bell, with Mesic, through no fault of his own, missing out in the contest for the left-back slot. The defensive midfield pairing would be Coventry and Mwamba, who has greatly impressed so far from the bench, with Chalobah not available (or risked), Skipp not yet considered, and Ouma not getting the nod. The three in front of them would be Campbell, Grant and Alli, as per the second half on Saturday, with Carey dropping to the bench alongside Knibbs and Rankin-Costello. Up front would be Leaburn with Mbick once more the only replacement, no sign yet of Godden or Kelman. Nkeng and Apter were also among the subs.
We started brightly but pretty soon they settled into their pattern, which we struggled to counter. We did have moments in the first half. In the first 10 minutes Ali intercepted a poor West Brom pass, fed Campbell on the left, and his dangerous low cross was blocked. Then on 22 minutes, after West Brom made a pig’s ear of a free kick in a dangerous position, we broke well, sent Leaburn into the channel, but he didn’t take the shot and the chance was lost. For them, despite all the possession, the only moment of danger was McNamara getting caught out and their guy in space on the left side of our box, Okonkwo saving his shot.
At the break the stats told their own story. West Brom with 72% possession and eight shots (only one on target) to our two (and zero). You felt we would need to find a way to play the game in their half, keep the defensive discipline, with the concern that if they did get their noses in front it could prove terminal.
What we didn’t need was a sloppy start to the second half, but that’s what we got, while they were lifted by a change and the introduction of a nippy winger. A McNamara error led to an early chance for them, with the guy’s curler deflected wide, then a little later good passing by them set up a guy inside the box, his shot well saved by Okonkwu.
Consequently it wasn’t that surprising that West Brom took the lead, on 58 minutes, although that it was from a corner – they had studiously avoided high balls into our box, knowing they were short in that department – was unexpected. The ball was swung in to around our far post. McNamara headed it out well enough, but it dropped to their guy around the edge of the box. Now it would normally have been McNamara’s area to cover, but he couldn’t be expected to head clear, land, then be able to close the guy down – and criminally nobody else in a red shirt realised the danger and moved to cover. As a result their guy had time to bring it down and pick his spot, burying a powerful drive beyond Okonkwu into the net.
It seems we had been on the point of making changes and they came straight after the goal. Mesik, Ouma and Rankin-Costello came on for Grant, Ali and Muamba. And with that we switched to a 3-5-2, with Bell moved inside and McNamara and Mesik becoming wing-backs, while TC also moved inside to give Leaburn some support.
The changes almost brought quick benefit as a long ball out of defence found Leaburn, who was cynically taken out but remarkably nothing was given. The officials made several errors, including confusing corners and goalkicks but more important missing two or three fouls on our players in good positions.
West Brom continued to threaten and nobody doubts that if they had scored again it would most likely have been game over. But a few shots didn’t find their mark or were blocked. And on 68 minutes we drew level, a goal fashioned from the formation change and the substitutes. Mesik won the ball and passed to Rankin-Costello, who drove forward. He then slid the ball back out wide for Mesik. His cross from the left was decent enough, but it seemed set to be headed clear before Leaburn managed to get in the way and keep the ball in the danger zone. It dropped for Campbell and he tucked it home with his left foot into the corner, beyond a despairing lunge or two.
West Brom were stung by that and now suddenly had a game to win that they thought might already be in the bag. And the remainder of the game, including just three minutes of stoppage time, was nip and tuck, might have gone either way. Mbick replaced a tired Leaburn after 79 minutes, on 88 Carey came on for Coventry. There was time for Mbick to intercept and get taken out with nothing given, but neither side could break the deadlock.
At the end no question we were the happier of the two. Did we deserve a draw? One of those where the stats say no (West Brom with 71% possession, 15 shots with three on target against our four and one) but we scored as many times as them, they can have no real complaints that they were unable to see out the game or add to their lead. The performance was far from perfect but mostly that was due to West Brom’s tactics. Against Derby we turned things around with a Jones header, against Preston with a change in personnel, and last night with a change in formation and the contribution of the subs. That points to flexibility and options, all of which is very positive.
Just want Ramsay, Edwards, Koumeito (sadly not likely Sichenje for some time), Chalobah, Godden and Kelman all back fit and chomping at the bit, plus Skipp settling in. I’ve no idea whether any of them will be available for Stoke on Saturday, or how Jones will shuffle the pack in view of tired legs and knocks. It will be another, different challenge. Stoke have conceded nine goals in four games, despite a clean sheet in their most recent one, so hopefully there will be gaps we can exploit. We go into the game with well-founded confidence.
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