The ACN Match Review 24/25 – West Bromwich Albion (a)

How did we play?

We played well. Better than for a while. This period of injury and moment-of-madness depletion has shown that while we have a very strong first eleven, we don’t have enough beyond that group of players. We need those players back but for now we stopped the bleeding with this game. 

Despite moments of fragility (more below), we looked more robust at the back. Some of that is down to Gunn’s return. But Shane Duffy deserves a bit more recognition than he’s getting. He looks solid and he also looked very much in charge. Fisher is really turning into something. 

Chance creation has been a bit of a worry recently but this was a game where we could have and probably should have scored a couple more at least. 

What was the best bit about the day?

I didn’t have high hopes for this one given that there have been just three goals scored in all of West Brom’s home fixtures this season. But we were treated to a properly good game of football. Good goals, good chances, good fans, good game. We even had a fun non-VAR goal disallowed for a pretty blatant hand ball. All in all, just a good day out. 

What was the worst bit about the day?

Those moments of defensive fragility. When West Brom’s goals get watched back at the next team meeting, there’ll be some shuffling of feet and staring off into the distance. We’ll need to do better to challenge for the playoffs. 

Hero of the match

Angus Gunn, literally just for being back. 

How do you rate the Hawthorns as an away day?

I’ve always thought of West Brom as the closest we’ve got to a twin in the league and their ground is partly why, with a similar size and quality. It’s a decent place and their fans are pretty friendly. They didn’t manage much noise but with the Norwich fans keeping the singing more or less throughout, it was a decent atmosphere all round. 

Summary in Five Words

We’ve found our footing again.