West Brom debrief: Valuable point in London - but Baggies need tweaks

A point came with no lack of talking points for Corberan’s visitors. Albion fell behind to Field’s opener – the boyhood Baggie’s first goal of the season – and the Rs were on top until another Mikey Johnston bolt from the blue, and the Celtic loanee’s stunner was immediately followed by Grady Diangana’s effort.

Drama followed after the break as Alex Palmer saved a penalty from Michael Frey seconds before defender Cedric Kipre handled off the line from another Field header – an offence missed by officials, players and almost everybody in attendance, but for the TV replays.

Albion almost held on for three points but QPR were the better side and merited at least a share of the spoils, which they eventually secured late on.

Baggies correspondent LEWIS COX assesses some of the stand-out talking points from West London.

Left-back conundrum

Conor Townsend missed out in a league game for just the second time this season and Albion felt his absence, something noted by Corberan afterwards. The head coach stated how Townsend was a miss on set-pieces particularly, something that doesn’t necessarily spring to mind with the full-back.

Adam Reach deputised but didn’t quite get to grips with the lively home wingers. His sub replacement Pipa also found it tough as the Rs came on strong.

Townsend is missing at Huddersfield on Sunday and it leaves Corberan a question mark at where to go on his return to the John Smith’s Stadium. Albion lack a natural back-up left-back and the boss’s decision will be interesting.

Bartley blow

Corberan revealed, as expected, centre-back Bartley was planned to make his comeback to the starting XI at Loftus Road but felt calf pain on Monday.

The defender is unlikely to make a recovery in time for Huddersfield and his prolonged absence is a blow to Corberan. Erik Pieters has been excellent in Bartley’s absence and has had the nod over Semi Ajayi, but Bartley’s dominance aerially is such an advantage at set-pieces and it would be a real boost to have him back.

The likelihood is Cedric Kipre and Pieters will continue at the Terriers on Sunday, unless the head coach opts to include Ajayi, too, and switch to a back three.

Tweak up top?

Jed Wallace has led the line for three games – two away – as one of four wingers in the side due to a lack of strikers. It’s a tough ask and he is doing well and giving

his all.

It might be time for a rethink of some sort for the trip to Huddersfield, Corberan has limited options when it comes to the centre-forward role, but he may be able to be creative with more support in the last line – Andi Weimann springs to mind as the obvious option. There is young Callum Marshall

too.

Skipper Wallace’s energy in leading the line played a big part in seeing off Coventry and keeps defenders honest but he is not that natural presence to hold the ball or buy free-kicks. Albion also miss his influence and delivery from the flanks.

Mikey Johnston is flying, Tom Fellows and Grady Diangana too. There is a decision to come for the trip to West Yorkshire.

New away resilience

A run of four away games unbeaten, something the Baggies have been craving for much of this season.

There are three draws in that period and a single victory, at Plymouth, but it appears Corberan’s men have discovered a way to avoid defeat on the road, something they really struggled to find before Christmas.

Those four clashes have varied. Albion’s were a hair’s breadth from victory at Ipswich and not too far from an unlikely success at QPR. Hull also took some character and resilience, while Plymouth was excellent.

A return of five or six points from the final five away games, with further consistent results at home, should achieve that top-six finish.

Hand of Ced

An incredible moment – one of the most unbelievable handball clearances I can remember from the Baggies defender.

It was so well-disguised that all 17,000 in attendance, including officials, home fans behind the goal and home players near to the incident, did not notice Kipre raising his arm to clear Field’s header just before the hour.

It would’ve changed the game, clearly, with another penalty – Alex Palmer had just saved from Michael Frey from 12 yards – and a red card for the Ivorian, as well as a terribly-timed three-match ban Albion have been lucky to avoid.

In that moment players do everything to try to stop a goal and Kipre did just that. It was remarkable nobody noticed and will live long in the memory of Baggies fans.