Tony Mowbray explains West Brom's Isaac Price and Torbjorn Heggem fitness "gamble"

Midfielder Price was expected to miss an extended period with ankle ligament damage but was surprisingly selected by the head coach in the starting XI at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night.

Price, who missed Saturday's defeat against Sunderland, was selected at the tip of a midfield diamond in the first half before being shifted out to the right after the break. He was unable to help the Baggies succumb to a last-gasp defeat to the Robins.

Mowbray told the Express & Star that while Northern Irishman Price could have missed two weeks to fully recover, Albion's play-off push had to take priority with a gamble to use versatile midfielder. Top-six hopes have taken a significant hit in the last few weeks following three defeats on the spin for Mowbray's men.

"Price ... I said to him we're at a stage where we have to gamble, really, over injuries," Mowbray said. "So he could've had a two-week break to get him back to 100 per cent ready, but it was worth strapping him up and sending him out there."

The head coach added of the change of system, with Price central between forwards Adam Armstrong and Karlan Grant: "We asked him to play a different role, we played wide strikers and a diamond in midfield to try to dislodge their shape. They are very energetic and play with a lot of intensity.