Five talking points from Preston 2 West Brom 3
Albion moved top with their third successive win in the league on Saturday, when they outscored Preston in an eventful five-goal match. Here are five things we learned from the game.
GAYLE FORCE WIND BLOWING BAGGIES UP THE TABLE
Jay Rodriguez’s goal was arguably more important because it broke the deadlock, but Dwight Gayle’s free-kick was a peach and proved to be the decisive goal.
His numbers since joining on loan are outrageous. From eight league starts, he’s scored six goals, won four penalties (all of which were converted) and been on the winning side six times.
Ian Poulter dressed up as a postbox after Europe’s Ryder Cup win because ‘he always delivers’. Somebody should find Gayle a similar costume.
BACK THREE LOOKS BETTER AS AHMED HEGAZI FINDS FORM
It’s not always been convincing at the back this season, but even though they conceded two goals and might have given away a penalty, Albion’s back three are looking more and more comfortable as the games go by.
Instead of giving away chances, the opposition now has to create them. Nobody sums this improvement up better than Hegazi, who has found form in the past three games, and is starting to get used to being the central pivot of the three. Crucially, his defending is getting better.
STAYING POWER IS ENCOURAGING
Whether it’s down to Darren Moore’s team-talks, their extra quality, fitness, or a mixture of all three, all season long the Baggies have found an extra gear in the second half.
Seventeen of their 25 league goals have come in the second half, and seven of those have been in the last 15 minutes.
Okay, they’ve also conceded quite a few late on, but this team is capable of turning the screw after the break. They’re still trucking along at 2.5 goals a game, which would end up in 115 goals come the end of the season.
MATT PHILLIPS IS MISSED (BUT NOT TOO MUCH)
Albion lacked the same presence and dynamism down the right-hand side that they usually have, but the encouraging thing is they still scored three goals without Phillips in the team.
Tyrone Mears is a functional understudy who improved as the game wore on, but he is not a long-term solution.
If Albion want to challenge this season, Phillips will need to stay fit and firing, because his abilities are tailor-made for the wing-back role. Fortunately, his muscle strain isn’t expected to keep him out for too long.
TOP OF THE PILE BUT NO LETTING UP
It’s great to be looking down on everyone else and 20 points from 10 games is a fantastic return, but this division is shaping up to be an incredibly tight one and there are a number of teams in the hunt.
Just five points separates the top 14 sides, and with the games coming thick and fast, consistency is key. Norwich’s rise up to fifth shows what a good run can do, while Bristol City, who were third when they came to The Hawthorns, are now 10th. Complacency cannot set in.
