Analysis: It’s a point gained for West Brom in this crazy Christmas

After Norwich and Leeds stunned onlookers on Boxing Day, the Canaries were then on the losing end of a similarly barmy game with Derby County on Saturday.

Albion’s match with Sheffield Wednesday may have been rather more run-of-the-mill by comparison, but it certainly didn’t feel it when Chris Brunt slid towards Woodman Corner on his belly in the 95th minute.

Last season, the Baggies had an awful habit of conceding late goals and it’s one that has reared its head occasionally this term.

But that’s twice in December Albion have salvaged a point in injury time at home, and twice this season they’ve roared back in unlikely circumstances against the Owls.

Brunt’s scrambled six-yard equaliser was slightly different to Harvey Barnes’ solo run at Hillsborough, but it means just as much.

After a frustrating afternoon at The Hawthorns, this was definitely a point gained rather than two lost.

Injuries and fatigue forced Darren Moore into four changes, and with January looming, this was a chance to see how much strengthening the squad needs.

Albion have one of the best starting XIs in the division, but there are still deficiencies that need ironing out, still gaps that need filling.

None of the four new additions disgraced themselves and James Morrison was arguably Albion’s best outfield player of the first half.

But there’s no question the Baggies missed the natural predatory finishing of Dwight Gayle, the experience and composure of Gareth Barry, the dynamism and pace of Matt Phillips, and the steel of an in-form Ahmed Hegazi.

The midfield three of Morrison, Brunt and Jake Livermore are too similar to one another and lack the variety Phillips offers.

No wonder when he came on, Albion finally started to threaten.

It took until the 70th minute for the Baggies to muster up an effort on target and that came from another substitute, Hal Robson-Kanu.

But even though they could use another dynamic midfielder and – thanks to Gayle’s injury and Jay Rodriguez’s red card – another striker, the gap that needs filling most urgently is at right-back.

Tosin Adarabioyo deserves sympathy, because he’s young, playing out of position and this 4-3-3 system leaves him isolated.

He’s also shown flashes of composure and his height means he can usually cut out the cross-field ball or the delivery to the back post. Usually.

But he needlessly gave away the corner Wednesday scored from and also had to be bailed out by Sam Johnstone when caught under one of those cross-field balls.

In his end-of-year message in the programme, chief executive Mark Jenkins warned supporters there would be no January splurge.

But Albion are planning to do some business and are closing in on a loan deal for Everton's Mason Holgate to provide competition at both right-back and centre-back.

What should be next is up for debate.

In Barry, Morrison, Livermore, Brunt and Phillips Albion should have enough quality to see them through in central midfield.

Extra pace in the engine room to help ease that particular burden off Phillips would be welcome, but is it worth risking destabilising a harmonious dressing room?

Any player good enough to be worth signing will most likely want to play, and yet there is already competition for places there.

Up front, Bakary Sako showed flashes of potential with his best performance in Baggies colours, but he rarely threatened the Wednesday goal.

At the moment, he is the nearly man, but Albion have got used to clinical forwards this season.

It’s worth remembering this period is the toughest of the season, the one with the most games in the shortest time.

And it’s taking its toll on plenty of other promotion hopefuls. The top two both lost, whereas Moore’s men managed to salvage something.

The Baggies are still nine games unbeaten, and the way they responded to Rodriguez’s red card was admirable. In fact, it almost seemed to jolt them into action.

The Owls should have been able to control the game after that, make their extra man count and pass Albion to death, particularly with Barry Bannan in the team.

But it was the hosts who took the initiative, and after Brunt’s equaliser in the fifth minute of injury time, they went searching for a winner.

This is a team going for promotion, make no bones about it. Who knows how important this point will be come May.

But forget the long-term for a minute, because it’s galvanising effect in the short-term may prove just as useful. It keeps the unbeaten run going, and keeps confidence high.

And while the coaching team know draws won’t get you promoted, it’s still better than losing.

More important than that though, was the mood inside the stadium.

It was sold out, again, for the third time this season, which is more than the previous three seasons put together.

And as Moore was quick to point out, the majority of fans stayed until the end.

“The stadium still being full in the last dying moments showed real togetherness and unity from the club and it’s something we’ve been working to get back here,” he said.

Moore understands the fanbase, and knows how integral and useful they can be, particularly at home.

For now, toxic atmospheres are a thing of the past. And that, more than anything, shows just how far Moore has taken the club in 2018.