Barnsley 3 West Brom 1: Chris Lepkowski's big match report and ratings
Iain Hume added a second after Jon Macken’s header looped over Scott Carson’s head and crossed the line.
It should have been Macken’s goal but referee Scott Mathieson, who was out of his depth in last night’s game, signalled for a penalty, which Hume converted.
Apparently he’d spotted a push by Shelton Martis or Gianni Zuiverloon. I’m not convinced Mr Mathieson actually knew.
Albion improved after the break with Gonzalo Jara replacing the injured Mulumbu.
By then Barnsley were already coasting and happy to allow Albion plenty of time on the ball, knowing their would be no end product.
Roberto Di Matteo selected Chris Wood to partner Roman Bednar and it didn’t work. Chris Brunt’s positioning on the right wing meant most of the balls were inswinging crosses. It was too easy and predictable for Darren Moore and Barnsley’s backline.
Brunt’s goal was a rare moment of inspiration. Too little, way too late.
Elsewhere, creative midfielder Filipe Teixeira was, once again, left on the bench when Albion needed a hook back into the game.
In fact Teixeira, Leon Barnett and Abou Meite barely rose from the bench to warm up during the second half.
If we are to assume that they aren’t rated too highly by Di Matteo – let’s face it, if Barnett and Meite aren’t currently capable of replacing the off-form Martis then when will they be? – then surely efforts must be made to move them on once the window opens in order for money to be reinvested on players he would like.
If Albion follow their usual ‘topping up’ policy in January then raising money through sales will be his main option.
Martis, for instance, barely figured during Tony Mowbray’s promotion campaign two years ago but is now a regular. Has he improved much during that time?
Yesterday’s game underlined that, actually, Albion’s squad isn’t too great when you scratch beneath the top layer.
Luke Moore’s injury leaves Albion with two senior strikers and a 17-year-old rookie.
A suspension or injury to any of those three – Bednar was lucky to escape injury following an ugly challenge by Carl Dickinson – would leave Albion hopelessly light up front.
Di Matteo is still looking for a striker and a centre-half during this loan window. If injuries keep stacking up then he’ll be needing even more players.
With hindsight, this side isn’t as good as we thought it was 10 days ago.
And, more so, it tells us that the head coach needs new blood during this current loan window and, more so, in January.
Albion clearly have the potential and a team that is capable of getting results. But those players who make up the squad who will also have a major influence during the course of the campaign.
BARNSLEY: (4-4-2) Bialkowski, Shotton, Foster, Moore, Dickinson, Doyle, De Silva (J Gray 45), Hammill, Colace, Macken, Hume (Campbell-Ryce 76). Not used: Rusling, A Gray, Kozluk, Bogdanovic, Butterfield.
ALBION: (4-4-2) Carson 6, Zuiverloon 4, Martis 3, Olsson 5, Mattock 5, BRUNT 6, Dorrans 5, Mulumbu 4 (Jara h-t, 6), Koren 5 (Reid 82), Bednar 5, Wood 5 (Cox 62, 5). Not used: Kiely, Meite, Barnett, Teixeira.
REFEREE: S Mathieson (Cheshire).
