Callum Robinson seals West Brom’s crushing win over Sheffield United
These clubs came down together from the Premier League last season but now look to be heading in different directions. West Brom continued their strong start under Valérien Ismaël by overwhelming a Sheffield United side who crumbled under nearly every set piece.
Jack Robinson inadvertently put West Brom in front by nodding into his own goal from a long throw-in by Darnell Furlong, who threatened throughout. Dara O’Shea, Alex Mowatt and Callum Robinson struck in the second half as United wilted. West Brom have scored nine goals in three Championship matches this season. United have yet to score one.
“We’ve got a new style and identity,” said Furlong of the muscularity and vibrancy introduced by Ismaël. “I think the fans are loving it and all the players are buying into it. It’s brilliant to be part of.”
By contrast, United looked bereft of identity, uncomfortable in a back four, awkward in midfield and blunt up front. They could do with investing a chunk of the money they expect to get for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who was omitted for this match because he is close to joining Arsenal for an initial fee of £24m, which could rise to £30m.
“There is an agreement between the clubs,” said Slavisa Jokanovic after the match. “I believe the deal is not done yet but it could be soon.” In Ramsdale’s absence, Jokanovic gave a league debut to Michael Verrips two years after the Dutch goalkeeper joined the club.
Verrips got an early warning of what was to come when a long throw-in from Furlong led to Callum Robinson putting the ball in the net in the first minute after a flick-on by Matt Clarke. The goal was ruled out for offside but West Brom opened the scoring with a near-replica strike in the 26th minute, the difference being that Jack Robinson headed into his own net under pressure from Clarke.
David McGoldrick was presented with a wonderful chance to equalise almost immediately but he steered a shot wide from 10 yards after Billy Sharp teed him up following a mistake by Kyle Bartley. “That was lucky for us but it was our only mistake of the game,” said Ismaël. Bartley could have scored at the other end before the break but headed wide from a corner.
Whatever Jokanovic said at halftime made no difference. United fell further behind two minutes into the second half, when another corner caused mayhem. Verrips failed with two attempts to grasp Mowatt’s inswinging delivery, allowing the ball to drop to O’Shea, who poked it through a crowd of players and into the net from six yards.
Verrips bore no blame for West Brom’s third goal six minutes later. The hosts again outfought United to win the ball high up the pitch before Karlan Grant slipped a clever pass through to Mowatt to finish emphatically from 10 yards.
Jokanovic replaced both his strikers but United still struggled to create chances, not to mention contain their hosts. It was no surprise when Callum Robinson made it 4-0 before the hour, tapping in from two yards after another throw by Furlong. “It’s an unbelievable weapon, you have to use it,” said Ismaël of his wing-back’s long throw-in power. Jokanovic might have pointed out that one also has to defend it.
Furlong could have crowned his fine personal performance by scoring in the 70th minute. But he lifted a shot over the bar from seven yards after lovely work by Callum Robinson and Conor Townsend.
With West Brom rampant, United grew more ragged and Semi Ajayi nearly made it 5-0 from another set piece. “We kept all the intensity throughout the 90 minutes and we were really ruthless in front of goal,” said Ismaël. “We need to continue that momentum.”