Bright debuts from pair at either end of careers
WEST Brom bowed out of the Carabao Cup at the thirdround stage after Grady Diangana’s penalty miss in a high-quality shoot-out that saw Championship side Brentford go through at The Hawthorns.
Hal Robson-Kanu had twice given Albion the lead from the penalty spot in normal time but on each occasion the Baggies were pegged back, firstly by Emiliano Marcondes – in impressive fashion – and then Marcus Forss, also from the spot.
Inevitably, the game was decided in a shoot-out. After four excellent penalties apiece, David Raya saved from Diangana and Christian Norgaard sent the Bees through.
Here are the talking points.
Whether it be because the club wants to achieve promotion from the Championship, or survive relegation from the Premier League, cup competitions have been on the back burner at Albion for some time.
Aside from Milan Baros’ questionable handball at Wembley in 2008, Roberto Di Matteo’s team selection at Ipswich in 2010 and Scott Sinclair’s Villa Park vengeance in 2015, the Baggies haven’t so much as flirted with a trip to Wembley in recent years. No, we’re not counting Spurs away in 2017, either.
The league will always come first, of course. Money talks. Fans have rather got used to weakened sides struggling past lower-league opponents, or being done by the likes of QPR or Brighton on wintry Tuesday nights at The Hawthorns.
But you can’t escape the fact Blues, Wigan and Swansea have all won cups in the last 10 years. And I don’t think there is a single Blues fan who would swap that glorious day out in 2011 for mere top-flight survival.
Be it Fulham or Sheffield Wednesday, it mattered not; both ought to be deemed beatable, especially on home soil. It’s 52 years and counting.
Conor Gallagher and Branislav Ivanovic – the pair at either end of their respective footballing careers – can offer Albion plenty on this basis.
Both have joined the club in the last week or so and are expected to bring different qualities to the table; Ivanovic, a ‘‘competitive animal with a big heart’’ as Jose Mourinho described him, is there for his leadership qualities and experienced head – you don’t achieve what he’s achieved without such attributes.
Gallagher, 16 years Ivanovic’s junior, will bring energy and enthusiasm to the midfield judging by this showing – such abilities are desperately required.
Here, Ivanovic was given an hour and came through it without too many problems. He remains a classy type, who nailed his challenges and won a number of headers.
Gallagher buzzed about the place, winning tackles and providing a positive approach when on the ball. It bodes well.
While Ahmed Hegazi remains out with an injury – he was at The Hawthorns to back his colleagues – it would appear Kenneth Zohore’s days are numbered.
Fit again, the Danish forward didn’t even make the bench in a game that was deemed, at the very least, a useful run-out for those with fewer minutes under their belt.
The striker, who cost £8 million last summer, hasn’t played since the last time Albion faced Brentford, at Griffin Park, just after the restart.
It was for ‘‘football reasons’’ that Zohore, Charlie Austin and Kamil Grosicki missed the trip to Goodison Park at the weekend, and Austin was the only one here to make it on to the pitch. That was as an 86th-minute substitution.
Head coach Slaven Bilic has maintained the club are looking to move a few players out to both make room in the squad and raise funds in the remainder of the transfer window. The October deadlines draw ever closer.