Grady stars for Baggies
SLAVEN BILIC is hoping West Brom hero Grady Diangana can be different gravy for West Brom.
The on-loan West Ham prospect, 21, scored twice in four minutes after coming off the bench at half-time to turn this game on its head after Harry Cornick’s header put the Hatters ahead.
“It was a no brainer to get him here,” said Baggies boss Bilic. “Grady now must prove himself as a Championship player first.
“We need consistency – we can’t expect him to get two goals every 45 minutes, but we can expect him to improve and to find a level of consistency that will help him.
“I hope Grady will keep performing. I know him from West Ham. He trained with us but was very young.
“He didn’t break into the team until last season and has played 17 Premier League matches (last season) under Manuel Pellegrini.”
Fellow sub Charlie Austin twice went close for West Brom, dragging one shot wide then smacking the post with another effort. Bilic added: “I’m glad he was threatening right away. He was getting into the right positions and the goals will come for him.”
The Hatters took a 15th-minute lead when Cornick got between Nathan Ferguson and Semi Ajayi to power a storming header on the run into the top corner from Martin Cranie’s cross.
West Brom responded with a rising 25-yard drive from Jake Livermore that was tipped over by keeper Simon Sluga.
Cornick went for a second goal just before half-time but his pointblank effort was smothered by Sam Johnstone.
Diangana changed the game within three minutes of coming on.
First he found the bottom corner from 25 yards with a low leftfooted drive.
Three minutes later, the England Under-20 cap reacted quickest to a deflection on Filip Krovinovic’s longrange shot, sending a diving header past Sluga.
Luton sub Kazenga Lualua forced Johnstone to tip his low shot wide and Pelly-ruddock Mpanzu missed Dan Potts’ cross as the Hatters tried to level.
But Austin twice went close to making it 3-1.
Luton boss Graeme Jones said: “I think if you were looking for a Premier League side, it was us in the first half, but we couldn’t sustain it, and Slaven brought on power.” LUTON WEST BROM 4 ........ Shots on Target ......... 3 1 ......... Shots off Target .........9 4 ................Corners .................8 10................. Fouls ....................6 1 ................ Offsides ..................1 83.3 . Passing Success .... 87.1 456 ...... Total Passes ........ 472 48.8 .......Possession ......... 51.2 42.2.. Territorial Adv%... 57.8