West Brom debrief: Formation and style experiment to assess after familiar late anguish

We assess some talking points in the debrief.

Formation and style

It remains to be seen but early indications are Ramsay's Albion will be one with three centre-backs and wing-backs. Call that a back five, at its most defensive, or a back three when Albion have to be on the front foot.

It is a change and quite a significant one. That shape has been seldom used for some time, but it is one that brought the new head coach success in the MLS with Minnesota.

Some parts of Friday night were a tough watch and a muted Hawthorns crowd agreed. But the first 15 minutes or so were rip-roaring and an example of fast, counter-attacking football against strong opposition near its best.

It fell flat as Boro dominated 70 per cent or more of the ball at times, with Albion sat deep, 11 men behind the ball. Boro appeared to be frustrated, but Charlie Taylor's unfortunate own goal before the break changed the dynamic.

The visitors' second before the hour spelled trouble but Ramsay responded with subs and a tweak in shape to a back four and it worked - almost well enough to claim a point. It should have been a point.

It is tough to make sweeping judgements. Boro are second and a strong outfit. There will not be many sides who want that much of the ball at The Hawthorns, nor should they be allowed. Ramsay admitted himself the balance of front-footed football, to get the home crowd going, is something his side must find.

It was clear there cannot be an acceptance to sit deep and counter throughout.

Johnston experiment

Winger Mikey Johnston is Albion's star and most creative attacker. Raised eyebrows, then, when the left winger started at right wing-back.

Johnston has never been defensive-minded and is not a player who loves those duties.

He was actually found in decent positions in the first period and Ramsay stressed that wherever an attacking player like Johnston is listed in his side the expectation and onus will be on them to get forward.

With that in mind, Johnston and Samuel Iling-Junior - both more wingers by trade - at wing-back is an attack-minded formation.

But Albion did not come alive more as an attacking force until Ramsay changed things having fallen two goals down on the hour. Johnston shifted wide left, with Iling-Junior behind him and Jed Wallace was introduced on the right and the fightback followed.

There will be nuance there and Boro should have put the game to bed earlier, but wherever Johnston is started in Ramsay's side, he needs to be high up the field.

Patched-up

Albion were bordering on threadbare. It is not an idea start for a new boss with no recognised central midfielders involved.

Ramsay revealed to the Express & Star that injured pair Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby have a chance for the Norwich six-pointer on Tuesday. Ousmane Diakite should be back from compassionate leave.

Callum Styles and Krystian Bielik, the makeshift duo in there, did fine considering the unfamiliar make-up. It is far from ideal, however.

Without natural wing-backs and with a left-back in the back three the Baggies looked very unfamiliar. They are short and the window cannot be relied heavily on this month. Ramsay needs a personnel boost.