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West Brom v Blackburn: Should Albion stick or twist for return of Tony Mowbray?

The question now is, stick or twist?

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Albion were comfortably beaten by Derby County on Wednesday (AMA)

Darren Moore’s cavalier approach and insistence on playing out from defence with a wing-back system has delivered some memorable results so far this season.

But on Wednesday night, it’s frailties were laid bare for all to see, and there is a great danger now that teams have figured out how best to exploit Albion’s weaknesses.

Paul Cook laid the blueprint, but his Wigan side jockeyed between pressing and sitting back.

Frank Lampard took it a step further, and his aggressive 4-3-3 put pressure on Albion’s backline to pass the ball with conviction, something they failed to do.

In truth, that result had been coming, but will such a humbling at home prompt a rethink on Saturday when Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn are the visitors?

Assistant boss Graeme Jones has been one of the main proponents of this season’s new look.

A self-confessed football purist, in Wednesday’s programme he said: “My belief is that you have to keep your integrity, keep your focus. You have to play the way you believe. It has to be like that.

“We train every day to have the ball, we train every day to break people down. You have to stick with it, you have to master it.”

That would suggest that perhaps this approach is here to stay. For better or for worse, ‘til death do us part.

Of course, this is not just a case of black and white, of being either adventurous going forward or solid at the back.

Just because Albion’s recent history has swung dramatically from one to the other, there is a happy middle ground that should be sought after.

Moore switched to a back four midway through the Derby game, and even though it didn’t stop the visitors scoring, perhaps a more solid base is the way forward.

A back four with two holding midfielders in front may remove one of Albion’s attacking threats up top, but it will also free up Matt Phillips and whoever is picked on the left to get forward.

Crucially, it will not leave a slow back three so exposed when Albion lose the ball, which they have a habit of doing recently.

Although Sam Field hardly disgraced himself on Wednesday, Jake Livermore’s return from suspension will add much-needed steel to the midfield.

Gareth Barry should also be considered if he is available, although he is just one of a number of injury concerns.

Albion are sweating on the fitness of Dwight Gayle, Kieran Gibbs and Ahmed Hegazi, although it is the striker who is most likely to miss out.

We might now see the true strength of the squad, but it will be the system that will be most interesting.

Jones also admitted: “The old story that people are happy if you’re not winning as long as you’re entertaining... that might have been a thing years ago but in the modern game, it doesn’t suffice any more.

“You have to get results, that is what you are ultimately judged on.” He’s not wrong.

Likely line-up:

Albion likely line-up

Subs: Adarabioyo, Edwards, Robson-Kanu, Sako, Morrison, Hoolahan, Myhill.

Blackburn: Raya, Bennett, Rodwell, Mulgrew, Bell, Evans, Smallwood, Reed, Dack, Armstrong, Graham.

The opposition: Tony Mowbray returns to The Hawthorns at last

Tony Mowbray

Considering it’s almost a decade since Tony Mowbray left the Albion, it’s quite remarkable that this will be the first time he brings another team back to The Hawthorns.

Having guided the Baggies to the Championship title in 2007/08, Mowbray’s overriding memories from his time in the Black Country will be positive.

No manager since, not even Tony Pulis, has taken charge of as many games as he did from the Albion dugout.

His dogged determination to play attractive football endeared him to the fans, even if it ultimately cost the team in the Premier League following promotion.

But Mowbray will no doubt get a warm reception from the Albion faithful, who will be hoping his vintage of 07/08 can be replicated this season.

He left for Celtic after falling out with former owner Jeremy Peace, and then moved on to Middlesbrough and Coventry before pitching up at Blackburn in February 2017.

Mowbray couldn’t save Rovers from relegation, but he brought them straight back up to the Championship at the first time of asking and he’s made a good fist of it so far this season.

Blackburn have only lost three games so far – one fewer than Albion – and one of those came in midweek against Swansea.

They currently reside on the fringes of the play-offs, having built on a promising five-game unbeaten start with eye-catching wins over Stoke and Leeds.

Mowbray’s Blackburn is built around the mercurial talents of Bradley Dack, the two-time winner of League One Player of the Year who Albion were interested in this summer.

The 24-year-old has taken the step up in his stride, scoring eight goals and laying on five assists in just 12 games.

But it is further back where Mowbray has concerns, after centre-back Darragh Lenihan limped off with a hip injury just 10 minutes into the 3-1 defeat to Swansea on Tuesday.

However, Mowbray is quietly confident that both Lenihan and right-back Ryan Nyambe will be able to play some part on Saturday.

"I hope Darragh will be with us," said Mowbray. "I got a text from the medical team telling me Darragh should be okay.

"Ryan has a chance. He’s trained well today and has been training all week.

"Tuesday was too soon, so we’ll see if he is ready for Saturday. We’ll see on him, but maybe we can welcome Ryan back."

Regardless of which team he puts out, Albion fans will expect expansive football.

The boss says:

It’s only the beginning (of the 46-game season). We had a chance to go top of the league, I don’t get too highs on the highs and too lows with the lows.

Memory lane:

The last meeting between the sides was in April 2012 and ended 3-0 to Albion. Martin Olsson (OG), Marc-Antoine Fortune and Liam Ridgewell scored.

The key man:

A change in formation would release Matt Phillips from his defensive shackles and allow him to be more of an influence in attack.

Danger man:

Bradley Dack

Those at Blackburn believe the 24-year-old is the next James Maddison, and no wonder.

He’s stepped up to the Championship seamlessly and has had a hand in 13 goals in his 12 games so far this season.

Albion wanted to sign him in the summer, but now Premier League sides – including Spurs – are sniffing around.