Bitesize Baggies: Big calls & pickpocketing West Brom

The supporters have not been treated to dramatic late shows that have gone in Albion's favour for some time.

But against Sheffield Wednesday, it had it all in the final moments as Jayson Molumby's 96th minute winner after Callum Paterson's equaliser cancelled out Adam Armstrong's debut goal was as sweet as they come.

Jonny Drury looks at some bitesize talking points to come from their dramatic home victory.

Big winger call

The team news threw up a host of stories, debuts, returning players, a goalkeeper change - but the two standouts were the exclusion of both Tom Fellows and Mikey Johnston.

The division's leading provider and the in form former Celtic man were left out by Tony Mowbray. It isn't believed to have been down to the suspected illness that was revealed on Friday, so it came as more of a surprise.

The reaction was mixed on the pair being left out - and at times in the first period Albion did look like they lacked a little bit of width.

Fellows gives you that in spades on right, he is a real 'chalk on the boots' type winger, whereas Grady Diangana likes to come inside into an already packed area of the field.

In hindsight, Wednesday boss Danny Rohl insisted that his side wanted to pack the middle of the pitch to stop Albion playing through them, so that could have seen the two wide men have first half success if they had started.

But in their absence Albion were still dominant, and their replacements in Diangana and Karlan Grant were involved in a couple of first half moves. In Grant's case, he should have done better with the two chances he had.

As the game wore on, it seemed as though Fellows and Johnston would be more and more key when they came off the bench. And they were.

Fellows came on and showed a burst of energy to get to the byline and cross for Armstrong, whose finish was sublime.

Then on the other side Johnston looked lively, and it was his rasping effort that led to the corner, that he took and then set up Molumby for the winner.

They both had big impacts of the pitch and that maybe justified Mowbray's decision to leave them out.

I think he is a very much horses for courses manager, and will play the best side to take on what's in front of him. In this one he saw the duo as more dangerous coming off the bench. However, they will start more games than they miss out on.

Wildsmith steps up

The other big call was goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith or the recalled Josh Griffiths.

In the end it was Wildsmith and for me he more than justified his selection.

In terms of distribution he had a couple of hairy moments early on and settled well.

His only first half contribution was a strong right handed save, but a vital one nonetheless.

There could be question marks about the offside goal, but it did seem as he was blocked by Josh Windass, who was ruled to be in an offside position.

Then later in the half he produced two big stops when Wednesday were on top. He did push the ball out into the path of Paterson for the goal, but for me the ball shouldn't have got that far. The cross should have been stopped before.

All in all, it was a solid outing for Wildsmith. He's had the backing from Mowbray already, but even after the game the Baggies boss insisted there is still competition for places.

Either way, this league debut will be a huge confidence booster for the keeper. Lets hope we see more of the same.

Smothering and pick pocketing

Since his arrival Mowbray has kind of been critical of Carlos Corberan's Albion, but complimentary in the same breath.

He has explained how they are defensively structured, but he wanted to let quality attackers off the leash.

He has also gone on to explain how when Albion would lose the ball, they were drilled to drop back into their shape, sit tight and then break when they got it back.

But that isn't Mowbray's way, he wants them to scramble to get it back at any opportunity.

In his first few games, we have seen those old traits ingrained in them from Corberan still lingering, and it was to be expected.

But against a decent Wednesday side, we got a real view of how Mowbray has already made an impact on his side.

Wednesday were deep in the first half but when they did turn the ball over, Albion were there waiting to pounce, to get the ball back and launch another attack as quick as possible.

It isn't something we have seen them do an awful lot in recent seasons, but Mowbray is drumming it into them.

Chances came from it in the first half, and it was two of the new boys who were the main instigators of this. 

Isaac Price and more so Adam Armstrong were constantly on their toes, waiting for a Wednesday player to nick possession before they struck again.

It kept the opposition penned in and kept the momentum with Albion. If carry that out to the level they did, against lesser teams, then Albion will see real success with it.