Val makes a right Call
CALLUM ROBINSON provided the creative spark that could ignite West Brom’s promotion charge – just when it looked as damp as rotten firewood.
The Republic of Ireland striker came off the bench to conjure two assists and enable the Baggies to score three goals in the final 12 minutes.
It was goalless and guileless until Albion manager Valerien Ismael sent on Robinson, shortly after he had thrown on Grady Diangana.
The leakiest defence in the Championship belongs to Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough, but they looked as if they might escape with a point until the changes were rung.
But once Cedric Kipre broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, Posh were on the slide and they fell apart in the final five minutes as Robinson set up Karlan Grant and then Diangana.
“We got impact from the bench again, with Robbo and Diangana,” said Ismael, who must have been a worried man when his team were booed off at half-time.
“It’s helps me and my staff to make better decisions when we have all the players together and we have the possibility to change the way of the game from the bench.
“We have to deal with these situations, to change the story, to force the ball over the line and then set the energy free.
“Until the first goal, it was the story of the season so far. But as always with a good story, there was a happy ending.”
The script Ismael wanted was for his new £7million signing Daryl Dike to score on his first start but the American striker was left frustrated.
His glanced a header wide, scuffed a couple more chances, and finally limped off after pulling a hamstring that is likely to keep him out for two or three weeks.
That must have encouraged Ferguson that it might be his day, but if fortune favours the brave he can have few complaints.
Peterborough had one shot, compared to West Brom’s 27 but Ferguson insisted: “I can’t believe we lost that game 3-0.
“For so long, I just couldn’t see them scoring. Then, all of a sudden, it was 3-0 in 10 minutes. So, I am massively disappointed.
“The longer the game went, I thought we might create something on the counter attack. But it’s a really bad habit we have of conceding late goals.”
With Reading and Cardiff both losing, this was a missed opportunity for the visitors to move up.
WEST BROM: Button 6; Kipre 6, Bartley 6, Clarke 5 (Robinson 74, 8); Furlong 7, Livermore 6, Reach 6, Townsend 6, Phillips 6 (Molumby 74, 6); Dike 6 (Diangana 53, 7), Grant 7 (Fellows 90). Subs not used: Palmer, Taylor, Gardner-Hickman.
PETERBOROUGH: Benda 6; Edwards 6 (Knight 49, 6), Beevers 6, Kent 5; Burrows 6 (Ward 84), Mumba 5, Taylor 6, Norburn 6, Grant 5 (Szmodics 69, 5); Clarke-Harris 5 (Marriott 74, 5), Dembele 5. Subs not used: Blackmore, Poku, Tomlinson..
MAN OF THE MATCH: Callum Robinson. Came on when goalless with 15 minutes to go and created two goals out of three.
REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson 7.