West Bromwich Albion 1 - 0 Coventry City

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West Bromwich Albion 1 - 0 Coventry City

Postby dutchman » Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:40 am

Diangana nets as Baggies beat Coventry to go fifth

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Grady Diangana's first-half strike proved enough to settle a frantic Championship Midlands derby as West Bromwich Albion edged past Coventry City to go fifth in the table.

The former West Ham United winger bundled in Jed Wallace's flick-on as Carlos Corberan's Baggies avenged their 1-0 defeat by the Sky Blues at the CBS Arena just before Christmas.

In front of 24,019, their third best home gate of the season - bettered only by the two games over the festive period - Albion were deserved winners in the latest in their stream of Friday night fixtures.

Their sixth straight home league win - all without conceding a goal - is their best at The Hawthorns in 45 years. But they were taken the distance by a hard-working Coventry side who went closest to equalising through top scorer Viktor Gyokeres when he fired over late on.

With West Brom's new loan signing Marc Albrighton making a lively debut on the right flank, the first half hour was a manic affair in front of a noisy near full house at The Hawthorns. But the Baggies had already carved out the better chances before they went ahead.

Daryl Dike powered a header just over, Wallace fired over after Albrighton's low right-wing cross was blocked - and Wallace and Diangana were then both denied in the same mad scramble.

The hosts then finally went in front on 15 minutes when, from Darnell Furlong's towel-assisted long throw, Wallace flicked on - and Diangana materialised on the line for his first goal of 2023.

Dike was then denied at the start of second half before being replaced just before the hour by top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante. But Albion could not find another way through.

Coventry went close to snatching a point when Gyokeres almost cashed in on a loose pass with his best chance of the night but blazed over from 18 yards. And home keeper David Button, who kept his place from last weekend's FA Cup exit at Bristol City, after a training ground knee injury suffered by first-choice Alex Palmer, only had one save to make.

On the anniversary of Steve Bruce's appointment as Albion boss, following Val Ismael's sacking, when the Baggies were fifth in the Championship, Corberan's side returned to the top five for the first time since.

But Mark Robins' Coventry stay 13th going into the rest of the Championship weekend programme, thanks to their untimely run of just one win in seven league games.

Sky Blues boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"They've got quality players and we knew what were up against. They're a good side, well coached. But we didn't start well - and we've got to stop doing that.

"It was a really disappointing goal. But it was only what they deserved after the start they made - and we made.

"We were better in the second half and could have got back into it. And in the end I'm disappointed.

"But when we did get a few chances, we've not got enough efforts on target. If you're on the front foot mentally, you can put other teams on the back. When we're on it, we can hurt anybody."

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Re: West Bromwich Albion 1 - 0 Coventry City

Postby dutchman » Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:43 am

Baggies dominate as Sky Blues manage one shot on target

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Coventry City slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat but were well beaten by a dominant West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies started the brighter of the two sides with pressure from the first minute, and enjoyed a good early chance when impressive January signing Marc Albrighton sent in a teasing cross which Luke McNally got a foot to but cleared only as far as Daryl Dike who headed wastefully over the bar from the edge of the six yard box.

City, however, went close themselves two minutes later in the seventh when Gus Hamer and Jamie Allen linked up well with the latter sending a low ball into the near post where Viktor Gyokeres was thwarted by a sliding clearance from defender Darnell Furlong from two yards out.

But Albion’s early endeavour paid off in the 15th minute when City failed to deal with a long throw into the box with both Callum Doyle and Luke McNally culpable, allowing the ball to drop to Grady Diangana who bundled it in at the far post to give the home side a deserved lead.

Coventry started the second half with a lot more attacking intent and gave a far better account of themselves with Hamer going close from a free-kick which forced the home keeper into his first save of the night. A triple change with Matty Godden, Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Josh Eccles going on pepped things up further as the visitors went in search of an equaliser.

Gyokeres went closest to pulling level when Allen nicked the ball and pushed it to the striker who pulled wide of his marker in the box but fired over the bar with all the goal to aim at. But with just one shot on target all night, City simply didn't create enough quality to find the back of the net.

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Re: West Bromwich Albion 1 - 0 Coventry City

Postby dutchman » Sat Feb 04, 2023 5:45 am

Sky Blues boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR "we didn't start well"

Or finish well or the bit in-between! :clown:
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