West Brom de-brief: Drama, depth & big decisions

Two wins from his first four games doesn't really tell the full story. An underwhelming start at Middlesbrough was followed by a cantering victory over Portsmouth.

Even the defeat to Plymouth had drama, albeit all the wrong reasons. And then there was Saturday, the latest of late shows that lifted the roof off The Hawthorns.

Jonny Drury reflects on some key points to come from Albion's dramatic win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Much needed drama

Leaving it late and producing edge of your seat late victories is something Albion fans had pretty much forgotten.

Under Carlos Corberan, it was pragmatic and structured in a bid to get the job done. Potential for late drama in games was not the order of the day. The last quarters in games under the Spaniard were all about shutting up shop if they were in front.

If they were behind, then many had become resigned to the fact they weren't going get back into games. And they were right.

But there has been a complete mentality shift under Mowbray.

When the Wednesday equaliser went in the supporters crestfallen but you kind of knew Mowbray's men would have another go, even with just three added minutes left on the clock.

Even if Albion hadn't scored, the encouraging sign was there that they had a go. A few months ago, there would probably have been an acceptance that the game was gone and they had to settle for a point.

No depth - but now no problem

Albion's season in terms of the options available and the depth at the disposal of the manager has gone in waves.

After the superb early season form, it felt like they had a plethora of options in all departments.

Injuries hit, as they do. Some players were out of form, and certain summer signings failed to hit the mark, and at points prior to the transfer window it felt that options were becoming limited.

However, on Saturday we saw that depth has returned to the Baggies squad. Up top, they have potent options and that is without Josh Maja and Daryl Dike, who are due to return in the coming weeks.

Over the festive period it felt like the midfield options were limited. Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby were the main men, but with Uros Racic being underwhelming to say the last, and Ousmane Diakite not hitting the mark, there didn't look like there was much room to mix it up.

Fast forward to Saturday, and you've got those mainstays performing, you add Isaac Price to the mix, Diakite is now showing what he can do, and it gives Mowbray options.

Horses for courses

Some of Mowbray's recent selections and decisions have left supporters scratching heads.

He started with no forwards against Portsmouth, he took off the two wingers at Plymouth and he left them out all together against Sheffield Wednesday.

But all three decisions worked. At Plymouth his changes led to the goal, and would have led to a victory but for an awful refereeing decisions and some terrible defending.

On Saturday, he left Mikey Johnston and Tom Fellows out. When they came on, they made big impacts in setting up both goals.

No doubt there will be more surprises moving forward, as Mowbray takes a 'horses for courses' approach. If his success rate follows his early decisions, then it should bode well for Albion during the run in.