Five talking points from West Brom's cup win over Mansfield
Albion beat Mansfield Town 2-1 in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday night. Here are five talking points from the game.
1 THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Darren Moore started six players aged 21 or under, and four of them came through the club’s academy. There were two more academy graduates on the bench too.
Jonathan Leko and Kyle Edwards won the game with their first senior goals, and 18-year-old Rekeem Harper played with a composure in central midfield of a much older man.
Together with Sam Field, this foursome is starting to knock on the door of the first team with performances full of pace, energy, and youthful exuberance.
The first half, in particular, was encouragingly enjoyable. Hopefully we will see more of them this season.
2 CRAIG DAWSON BEING WELCOMED BACK
The defender was actually one of Albion’s poorest players on the night, and had Boaz Myhill to thank for saving his blushes in the first half.
But when he was substituted off, he was given a warm reception from the majority of fans, who are keen to see him reinstated into the team.
Dawson is better than this performance, and has proved that down the years, while Albion’s defence has looked shaky this season.
He’ll need to play much better against Stoke this weekend, but considering the response he received against Mansfield, most fans are keen to see him back in blue and white after a summer of discontent.
3 GARETH BARRY ON ROAD TO REDEMPTION
The veteran midfielder was public enemy No.1 last season after the Barcelona incident was followed up by an unwise trip to Snobs nightclub.
But on Tuesday night he held the young midfield together after being handed the captain’s armband by Moore.
A contender for man of the match, the 37-year-old is now, together with Harper and James Morrison, starting to put pressure on Chris Brunt and Jake Livermore in central midfield.
He also got a much better reception from the fans. A few performances like this in the league, and last season’s misdemeanours will start to fade from view.
4 TYRONE MEARS PROVES SOME OF HIS DOUBTERS WRONG
Eyebrows were raised so high when the 35-year-old free agent signed, they nearly disconnected from heads. Mears may not have set the world alight against Mansfield, but he did prove one thing, his fitness.
After watching him power up and down the flank for 90 minutes as a wing-back, there’s no denying he’s got an engine on him.
He’s unlikely to provide serious competition for Matt Phillips, but on first viewing he seems an adequate replacement for Allan Nyom, and if the wages saved from that squad-player swap can be redirected elsewhere, it might make sense.
5 BIG 48 HOURS COMING UP FOR YOUNGSTERS
If they don’t want their development to stutter, the likes of Leko, Harper, Field and Edwards need minutes in senior football this season, whether that’s at the Albion or elsewhere.
Edwards and Jack Fitzwater (who has returned to Walsall) came on leaps and bounds in lower leagues last season whereas Field has been misused by successive managers at The Hawthorns.
They need more men’s football this season, and if Moore isn’t ready to trust them in the league, he needs to let them leave on loan to further develop themselves. There’s been plenty of interest for their services.
