Wilson’s late show thwarts Baggies
RESERVE keeper Ben Wilson saved a controversial last-minute penalty but couldn’t keep Coventry in the play-offs race.
Referee Stephen Martin stunned Sky Blues boss Mark Robins when he ruled Michael Rose had upended substitute Callum Robinson.
But Wilson, 29, deputising for regular keeper Simon Moore in only his fourth league game of the season, dived to his right and got to Karlan Grant’s weak spot-kick.
“It was no way on this planet a penalty,” roared Robins. “But the ref couldn’t wait to give it.
“The save was out of this world.
“Not only that, Wilson’s general game was good.
“We were good value for a point and could have nicked something with a bit more belief.”
The Sky Blues have two games left but cannot now crown a terrific season with a play-off place.
“We have progressed in our second season in the Championship and being fourth early on was great,” added Robins.
“But it’s being fourth now that you want and we have still to progress to that point.”
Coventry aren’t ready for the Premier League and neither are West Brom. Boss Steve Bruce has a lot of sorting out to do with a Baggies squad that was expected to bounce straight back to the top flight.
He admitted: “We’ve already started looking at next season and there needs to be some new faces here.”
WEST BROM: Button 6; Ajayi 6, O’Shea 6, Clarke 8; Reach 8, Livermore 7, Molumby 6, (Diangana 79th) Townsend 6 (Robinson 90th); Gardner-Hickman 6 (Phillips (72nd) 5); Grant 5, Carroll 5
COVENTRY: Wilson 6; Rose 6, Hyam 6, McFadzean 7; Kane 6, Allen 6, Sheaf 6, Hamer 6 (Kelly 79th), Maatsen 7; O’Hare 6 (Waghorn (62nd) 5); Gyokeres 7
STAR MAN: Matt Clarke
REF: S Martin