Style needs “strong mentality” as Tony Mowbray contemplates West Brom change…
Albion boss Tony Mowbray admitted a counter-attacking success against Watford has given him food for thought for the run-in.
The Baggies prevailed 2-1 at home to the Hornets to end a run of five games without a victory and breathe life into their play-off chase.
Karlan Grant and Mikey Johnston scored in a counter-attacking masterclass for Albion – a style some way removed for Mowbray’s preference to dominate possession and dictate play.
The hosts should have won by a bigger margin despite just 38 per cent possession against Watford. Albion’s three straight defeats of late, against Norwich, Sunderland and Bristol City, have seen Mowbray’s side on top in stats but fluffing their lines when it matters.
Lewis Cox’s West Brom analysis: Change in style as attackers seize the moment..
At this stage of the season it is all about winning – and Albion have not done much of that of late.
The Baggies were drinking at the last chance saloon for Saturday’s home clash against Watford. Form since the international break has left no room for error in this play-off race.
For much of the season Albion, both under Carlos Corberan and now Tony Mowbray, were in the driving seat. Now they are chasing.
But Saturday’s 2-1 victory over a handy Watford side keeps hopes alive of a top-six finish – or at least that a Albion can stay in the chase as long as possible.
Things looked bleak on the back of last Tuesday’s reverse at Bristol City, a third defeat on the spin to leave Mowbray’s men winless in five and supporters questioning what had gone wrong and where the next win was coming from.
Albion had to dispatch of Watford, who themselves were only a point further back, and they did so in relatively admirable style. A one-goal margin was not a true reflection of the contest at 2-1 – it should have been a much comfortable victory, but Tom Cleverley’s Hornets are no mugs and put up a fight.
The Hawthorns hosts, specifically their attackers, did what for some time now they have failed to do – deliver when it counts.
Goalscorers Karlan Grant and Mikey Johnston netted for the first time since December, both finding the net for the first time in Mowbray’s three-month reign.
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