Analysis: Late heartbreak a poor way to go into international break for West Brom

The Hawthorns head coach would have been just as irked by the timing of the Terriers’ winner as to the fact the visitors deserved the three points as the better side.

Albion were brought down a peg or two by the well-drilled, physically superior and sharper Yorkshiremen – who had yet to register a victory this term.

A victory over Middlesbrough seven days earlier to extend the excellent Hawthorns record under Corberan, before a relatively successful end to the transfer window having kept hold of key players and loaned a right-back, had Baggies in decent spirits.

But Corberan and his side were unable to build on any signs of momentum and optimism against his former club and lost for just a third time at home in 19 under the Spaniard.

Albion momentum came in a very brief early flash – after another welcome blast of the well-received Liquidator – but fizzled away after barely five minutes.

The home side were too ponderous and not quick enough of mind or body to really stretch Warnock’s 3-5-2. The veteran’s change of formation may well have surprised Corberan ahead of kick-off.

The Baggies looked laboured and low on creativity. Goals had not been a problem up to that point this season, so the hope is for it to be written off as a bad day at the office.

But how often over recent months and years has Albion’s problem been not turning home crosses into the box? Matt Phillips alone delivered several appetising balls into the box that went unanswered. A poacher would’ve had a field day.

The hope is Josh Maja can become a regular scorer. But he will relive that moment seconds before Huddersfield’s winner, when deep in stoppage time he found himself in on goal, took his time, but lacked any convection and was denied by Lee Nicholls. Thirty seconds later, inexplicably, Jack Rudoni lashed in the winner.

The same as Phillips can’t quite be said for opposite winger Jed Wallace, who Albion miss the best of. The new club captain tired towards the end of last season – understandably, he barely missed a second – but has struggled to get going this term.

He isn’t alone, but the high standards he set last term have been missed. The 29-year-old developed appendicitis early in the summer and went under the knife.

Anyway, Albion lost the battle in midfield. A battle Corberan predicted. Warnock hailed his wily old skipper Jonathan Hogg after the game and he, last-gasp match-winner Rudoni and debutant Ben Wiles were much better as a collective than Okay Yokuslu, Jayson Molumby and John Swift.

Although Swift’s equaliser after half-time, against the run of play on a sharp counter-attack, was the highlight of a decent display from the attacking midfield man, as he built on a strong Boro showing with a third goal already this season.

Albion have problems defensively though, that much is clear. And that does not just rest on the back four as it was on Saturday or back five as it has been.

It also lies with goalkeeper Alex Palmer, a midfield two who should offer better protection and every player out there.

Albion have conceded two goals in all but one of five Championship games this season – and five in six in all competitions.

Corberan has hammered home the message publicly that such a return is nowhere near good enough. If that continues it goes without saying the Baggies will be much closer to the relegation places than play-off contention.

Such a drastic record is unlikely to run on, but it is a real early season cause for concern. Corberan’s Albion were built on the most solid of foundations when the head coach had his stunning impact last season. Clean sheets were a regularity and Palmer had one of the best records in the division.

The keeper has struggled so far this term. He may be going through a difficult patch that hopefully he will emerge from. Both goals on Saturday were down to the left at his near post, both well struck enough, but both Palmer got contact on.

Perhaps the change to a back four in front of him didn’t help. Unusual personnel in Kyle Bartley’s first league start since last November might have been a contributing factor. Conor Townsend has been out the side for a few weeks and didn’t enjoy the easiest return.

The match-winning counter, seconds after Maja was easily denied, will annoy Corberan well into the fortnight’s break. Nathaniel Chalobah’s attempt to cut it out was measly. Albion have to do better.

They are frail and brittle at the moment, leaving much to ponder and work on for two weeks.