GRADY MAKES IT LOOK EASY
Diangana taps into Baggies’ play-off dreams
BY 1 0
GRADY DIANGANA scored the easiest goal of his life as West Brom stormed into the top six.
The ex-west Ham winger netted from one yard out as the Baggies picked up a deserved derby win.
And they showed in patches why they must be feared for a Premier League return. Daryl Dike headed over early on after debutant Marc Albrighton’s cross had caused all sorts of problems.
At the other end Viktor Gyokeres could not make proper connection on a Jamie Allen cross.
But West Brom were the side looking the most likely. Jed Wallace was at the heart of their best moments as he fired over before hitting the post as the Sky Blues could not clear their lines.
Baggies fans protested against owner Guochuan Lai with a mobile phone lights demo – but it was their team who were dazzling on the pitch.
They took a deserved lead as Diangana put in from virtually on the goal-line after Wallace had headed on Darnell Furlong’s massive throw.
Carlos Corberan’s side should have gone further in front before the break. On-loan Leicester star Albrighton linked up superbly with Wallace with a clever corner routine, and the latter so unlucky to miss the target.
Wallace was at it again as he robbed Ben Sheaf before curling just wide. West Brom had a great chance to seal things early in the second half as Dike burst through but was denied by an impressive Ben Wilson stop. It really should have been game over.
Coventry though finally came into it with Gustavo Hamer’s freekick kept out by David Button.
Furlong was unlucky to header off target from a corner.
Then, back at the other end, Sky Blues top scorer Gyokeres had his head in his hands as he powered over when well placed.
And West Brom had to show a different side to their game with captain Dara O’shea bravely getting his face to a Hamer thunderbolt late on.