West Brom clinched all three points after beating Coventry City 2-0 at the Hawthorns on Wednesday night to climb to sixth in the Championship.
Alex Mowatt opened the scoring in the 10th minute after his deflected shot beat Brad Collins to give the Baggies the lead. Coventry then tried to get back into the game but lacked a cutting edge as the home side took a 1-0 lead going into half-time.
The away side continued to create chances, but a superb strike from Karlan Grant doubled the Baggies’ lead in the 74th minute. The home side then saw the rest of the game out as they claimed a vital win over Frank Lampard’s team.
What Happened
The away side started on the front foot and had an early chance through Norman Bassette. The winger was released down the right and beat his man before cutting in and unleashing a powerful shot, which was saved by Alex Parmer to deny Coventry an early lead.
After weathering the initial pressure, the Baggies started to create chances and, in the 10th minute, opened the scoring after Mowatt was found on the edge of the box. The midfielder’s effort deflected off Josh Eccles inside the 18-yard box, giving Brad Collins no chance to deny Mowatt’s shot.
Embed from Getty ImagesLampard’s side quickly looked to respond and had a flurry of corners that tested Palmer but came to nothing. Moments later, Bobby Thomas picked up the first yellow card of the match for a reckless challenge just outside the box, handing the home side a promising free-kick opportunity to level the score. However, the delivery was well-defended, and the ball was cleared to safety.
Moments later, Callum Styles was awarded a yellow card after stopping a dangerous counterattack for Coventry. After this, the away side settled down as they tried to find the final pass but lacked the cutting edge to test Palmer.
The away side then came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 37th minute, as a superb cross was floated to the back post. However, despite the inviting delivery, no Coventry players could make the crucial connection to turn the ball past Palmer
Then, just before halftime, the home side tried to build on their lead after Grant was found on the edge of the box, but the striker’s effort went past the far post. Minutes later, Eccles should have equalised for the away side after beating his man, but Palmer again made a good save to deny the defender as West Brom took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Baggies made a half-time substitution, bringing John Swift on for Josh Maja in an attacking change. This change helped West Brom build attacks better and they started the second half brightly, with Swift being instrumental to their forward play.
Both teams tried to create chances as we approached the 60th minute, but neither could test the goalkeepers. Then Lampard made two changes to his team, which saw Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante replace Eccles and Ephron Mason-Clark.
Minutes later, Torp had the best opportunity of the game for Coventry, as the forward was found at the back post unmarked. The striker got on the end of the inviting delivery but couldn’t guide his shot on target in a big left-off for the home side.
The away side continued to create chances, and responding to the pressure, Carlos Coberan made a triple change to his side, which saw Styles, Tom Fellows and Mikey Johnson come off for Jed Wallace, Kyle Bartley and Lewis Dobbin.
Coberan’s tactical adjustments paid off brilliantly as a brilliant run from Grant carved open the Coventry defence, finding the striker on the edge of the box. Grant then unleashed a thunderous shot past Collins, doubling the home side’s lead.
Embed from Getty ImagesResponding to the goal, Lampard made another change, which saw Ellis Simms replace Sakamoto in the 77th minute. Six minutes later, Albion made their third change of the night, seeing Uroš Račić replace Jayson Molumby.
The Baggies then saw the rest of the game out, claiming a vital three points against Coventry, which takes them into a play-off place as they travel to Watford on Sunday. Coventry moves down to 16th after tonight’s loss, as they sit four points above the relegation zone, with Hull City coming up on the weekend.
The lineups
WBA: Palmer; Furlong (C), Holgate, Styles; Molumby, Maja, Heggem, Grant, Johnston; Mowatt, Fellows
COV: Collins; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Latibeaudiere, Bidwell; Eccles, Sheaf, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Bassette