Ashton Gate’s talking points as West Brom decide to draw and share victory with Bristol City
West Brom claimed their first clean sheet of the new Championship season at Bristol City on Saturday – but their wait for that first elusive away win since April continues as they played out a goalless draw at Ashton Gate.
In a game of two halves, the Robins were dominant in the first period, but the Baggies wrestled back the momentum in the second and went close through a host of different players, but while Albion haven’t struggled to hit the net this term, that one killer moment eluded them.
An afternoon of ‘what if?’, perhaps, for Albion who started slowly and passed up decent opportunities they’d carved out, but it’s another point and a maiden shut-out. Onto Watford. Here are the talking points from the West Country.
If nothing else, Albion could take away a first clean sheet of the season for Albion, who have shipped five goals in each of their previous six games this season. They did ride their luck in the first half as Bristol City poured forwards and caused problems through Nahki Wells, who made the afternoon difficult for Semi Ajayi.
Then Alex Palmer wasn’t punished when he failed to connect with a long ball and Mark Sykes nipped in, squeezing a shot towards the abandoned goal but onto the post before half time. Albion carried more momentum in the second half, attacked more and, as a consequence, they permitted fewer opportunities for their hosts who were on the ropes.
Albion did require their goalkeeper before the end, who responded impressively to that earlier error when he made himself big and denied Harry Cornick a certain goal from inside the Albion penalty area. This, for confidence and belief in what they’re doing, could be a significant shot in the arm for Albion’s back-line.
You’d have to say that Albion’s changes, made by Carlos Corberan in the second half, had the desired effect – to a degree. The elusive breakthrough didn’t arrive, but it wasn’t through the want of trying. Conor Townsend brought impetus and quality of delivery from the left, Alex Mowatt provided mobility and composure in the middle and, up top, we saw what Josh Maja can bring further down the line. The ten-minute cameo of Jeremy Sarmiento excited, too.
Albion players introduced over course of the second period combined on more than one occasion to go close – Sarmiento with Maja at the death, but also Maja prior to that with Townsend, who couldn’t quite divert a low ball across goal back into the far corner from a tight enough angle.
There’ll be frustration shared in some quarters of the fanbase about Sarmiento’s current minutes, but Corberan’s explanation regarding the requirement to change the shape had he done so was understandable.
It’d be a serious pity now if Corberan was denied Maja for any period of time. It didn’t look good, it must be said, when you slowed down the replays of the late collision with challenging defender Kal Naismith. Everyone associated with Maja can only cross their fingers and hope for the best outcome – that the injury isn’t as first feared.
The parting image of the striker being helped off the pitch at the end by the club’s medical staff, as his teammates and manager made for the away end to show their appreciation for the travelling support, is a worry – especially when you consider how this cameo of Maja’s played out.
Hailed as ‘excellent’ by his manager, Maja showed in his longest cameo to date in an Albion shirt what he has to offer. His 24-minute run-out here was about as long as he’s spent on a pitch in a Baggies shirt so far this season and, in that time, his linking of the play pleased Corberan greatly, as did the early signs of a rapport with fellow forward Brandon Thomas-Asante.
After a fortnight in which Albion have had no football, they’ll now play their second game on the road in the space of five days when they head south to Watford on Wednesday night, for a reunion with Valerien Ismael. This, on reflection, is a solid point, a point they’d probably have taken at the break and certainly one gladly accepted when Cornick bore down on goal in stoppage time.
It could’ve been better, like Albion’s general start to the season, but they’re continuing to pick up points here and there while key personnel, like Jed Wallace and Okay Yokuslu, hunt for their very best form which was absent again here. They’re still yet to properly feel the benefits of their transfer business, in-game, too.
Albion fans are well versed in what to perhaps expect from Ismael, who is in the Hornets hotseat months after Albion met with former boss Slaven Bilic in the same fixture. Victory at Vicarage Road would be sweet indeed – but unquestionably must be earned.