Loan star Johnston too good

MIKEY JOHNSTON starred again as West Brom moved eight points clear of seventhplaced Hull.

The on-loan Celtic ace, who had netted five times in his previous five games, set up goals either side of half-time for Tom Fellows and Jed Wallace.

It is now six unbeaten for Albion and boss Carlos Corberan beamed: “Mikey excites me a lot.

“To have players at his level helps to win football matches.

“Now we have eight big games and need to focus on ourselves.”

Johnston had gone close with an early effort but City’s Tommy Conway was denied in a one-on-one by Alex Palmer.

West Brom snatched the lead in the last minute of the half as Fellows fired home from Okay Yokuslu’s pass following Johnston’s run.

It was Fellows’ fifth goal of 2024, with all his career goals coming this year.

Albion made it game over five minutes into the second half as Johnston charged forward again and found Conor Townsend who laid it on a plate for Wallace to score his first since December.

City rallied with Jason Knight and Mark Sykes heading against the bar.

Manager Liam Manning thought West Brom’s first should have been ruled out as Grady Diangana was blocking keeper Max O’leary.

He said: “It looked offside. I wouldn’t waste my breath talking about the ref but I thought he was really poor today. We need to have a bit more belief.” WEST BROM: Palmer 6; Furlong 6, Kipre 6, Pieters 6 (Bartley (46) 6), Townsend 7; Yokuslu 7 (M’vila (81) 5), Mowatt 6; Fellows 7 (Reach (81) 5), Diangana 5 (Swift (65) 6), Johnston 7; Wallace 7 (Thomas-asante (71) 6) BRISTOL CITY: O’leary 6; Mccrorie 6 (Tanner (84) 5), Vyner 7, Dickie 7, Roberts 6 (Pring (84) 5); Sykes 6, King 5 (Twine (68) 6), Gardner-hickman 6, Mehmeti 6 (Cornick (68) 6); Knight 6, Conway 6 (Wells (68) 6) STAR MAN: Mikey Johnston – Did not score but two fine runs led to two goals for the home side. REF: Tom Nield 7