Semi benchmark as kids plan for more game-time
KARLAN Grant’s last-gasp penalty was saved as any lingering hopes of making the Championship play-offs mathematically ended for both West Brom and Coventry as they played out a goalless draw at The Hawthorns.
Grant’s spot-kick was parried by goalkeeper Ben Wilson to end an otherwise poor game where the Sky Blues looked the more likely scorers.
Viktor Gyokeres, Jamie Allen (twice), Ben Sheaf and Martyn Waghorn missed chances for the visitors, while Albion’s Grant and Matt Clarke were guilty of wasting their best opportunities in open play.
Here are the talking points from The Hawthorns.
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Ajayi on the overlap
Reinstated to the XI in place of Kyle Bartley, who had an evening to forget against Nottingham Forest last time out at the City Ground, Semi Ajayi had a point to prove after being recalled by manager Steve Bruce.
The Nigeria international defender took his chance with both hands.
The 28-year-old was arguably Albion’s most positive attacking threat in the first half, which perhaps says more about the performance as a whole rather than Ajayi individually, but should not detract from his showing.
Ajayi, returning as the right-sided centre-back alongside Dara O’Shea in the centre and Clarke on the left, was a constant threat on the overlap of wing-back Adam Reach and caused Coventry all sorts of problems, which they were perhaps not expecting from the rampaging defender.
This was how the Baggies made their first foray into the opposition area when Reach drifted inside from the flank and fed the ball back to the onrushing Ajayi, who was by this point well into the Sky Blues’ box before picking out Conor Townsend, who couldn’t apply a meaningful touch goalwards.
Far from a one-off, this happened again throughout the half as Reach and Ajayi combined well down the right as the former naturally came inside onto the wing-back’s preferred left foot.
With performances like these and the imminent departure of Brighton loanee Clarke, it is clear Ajayi shouldn’t need to get used to warming the bench on too many more occasions.
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With the play-offs now officially out of the picture, Albion should use the final two matches to give a taste of first-team football to younger players.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman broke onto the first-team bench in May last season and is now an established starting option for Bruce, and the next academy graduate could well emerge in the same way.
Caleb Taylor was drafted onto the bench against Coventry, with Darnell Furlong suspended and Alex Mowatt injured. A debut for the teenager dubbed by Bruce the club’s best young player would be welcome in the circumstances. The 19-year-old is a centre-back but, with an eye on the future, replacing Clarke, who is far from certain to appear again next season, would seem sensible, despite Albion’s abundance of players in that position.
Giving Alex Palmer a run-out, seeing as the goalkeeper is the only one still under contract for next season, also seems smart.
David Button has done nothing wrong over the last three matches, but getting a look at Palmer after returning from Luton would make sense ahead of the next campaign.
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Younger element Villa revisited
Bruce claims he is dealing with a similar job to the one he faced at Villa. The 61-year-old will be seeking his fifth promotion to the top flight next season.
“I was in a similar position to this one down the road at Aston Villa. It needed a major rebuild and we went on to lose the play-off final,’’ said Bruce.
“I was sacked three months later but that is football. We didn’t have a huge amount of money. You have got to wheel and deal and I’d like to think I’ve got the experience to get that across.”
n Albion boss Steve Bruce has made a comparison to his days as Aston Villa manager as he looks ahead to a busy transfer window for the Baggies.
West Brom are currently sat in the bottom half of the Championship table in 13th, as Bruce and his squad slowly watch their season dwindle away on the back of a loss to Nottingham Forest and a draw to local rivals Coventry City.
With the season all but done at the Hawthorns, manager Bruce has
been looking ahead to the transfer window where he can put his own stamp on the squad he inherited in February from Valerien Ismael. Bruce has admitted he is prepared to ‘wheel and deal’.
Bruce stated: “I was in a similar position to this one at Villa. It needed a major rebuild and we went on to lose the play-off final.
“I was sacked three months later but that is football. We didn’t have a huge amount money. I had to sell (Nathan) Baker the big centre-half
to bring in John Terry. You have got to wheel and deal and I’d like to think I’ve got the experience to get that across.
“I always have enjoyed it and that is probably why I am here. It’s what I’ve done for the past 20-years and I’m quietly confident we can do it.
“We have got great support, it’s a great club with a fiercely loyal fan base. And I’m determined to give them a team they can associate with and which they come and enjoy watching.”