Criticism comes after Nathan Lyon walks off lbw without reviewing – and Mitchell Starc seemingly offers him no guidance – with two reviews at Australia’s disposal

Andrew McGlashan in Sydney06-Jan-20193:00

Martyn: Not enough desperation from Australia

Ricky Ponting has slammed Australia for showing “no desperation” after Nathan Lyon opted not to review his lbw when given out to Kuldeep Yadav despite there being two challenges remaining.Lyon walked off almost straightaway after the decision from umpire Ian Gould, as non-striker Mitchell Starc appeared to not offer any guidance on whether to use the DRS. The ball from Kuldeep was very full and may have hit Lyon’s boot flush, which means the umpire has to consider it goes straight on, and there could also have been a question as to whether Lyon got outside the line.”That dismissal actually says a lot to me about the mindset of this Australian team at the moment. There’s no desperation there whatsoever,” Ponting said on Seven, one of the host broadcasters. “Why wouldn’t they have had a look at that? They’ve still got the two reviews up their sleeve. There had to be some sort of doubt in that.”Given out straight away and Mitchell Starc just puts his hand out and says ‘oh well, it’s not me, it’s up to you to make [a call]’. Well, unfortunately, when you’re out there together it’s a partnership. You’ve got to do whatever you can to try and save your mate. And there was absolutely none of that there. And as it’s shown already that would have been given not out. Slack and not desperate enough.””You can see where Mitchell Starc is standing at the non-striker’s end,” he added. “One, look how wide he’s standing. There’s no need to be that wide in the first place. Nathan Lyon looks up, ‘Oh what do you reckon?’ ‘Oh I don’t know mate. Yeah I don’t know. But let’s not bother looking. We’ve only got two [reviews] up our sleeve.'”After the day’s play was curtailed by bad light with Australia having been asked to follow-on in a home Test for the first time in 31 years, Peter Handscomb insisted there were no issues with Lyon walking straight off”You ask Gazza, he thinks he was hit on the full on the middle toe or his big toe, it’s not often anyone in the world thinks they’re going to review that. So he waked off in no doubt, he knew he was out, so that’s fine. That’s his decision, we back that in completely.”Ponting’s forceful reaction was not his first stinging comment during the match. On the third day he had also made a pointed reference to Australia’s inability to make big runs following comments over the last couple of games that the pitches have not provided enough assistance to the home attack. “If they’re flat, get some runs on them,” he said.There have been suggestions of tensions in the Australia camp throughout this Test following the bowling performance on the opening day, where they went to a short-pitched tactic midway through the first session.When Lyon was asked on ABC Radio how the plans came about, he said. “I’m not really sure about, I wasn’t really happy about it to be honest. We missed out using the moisture in the wicket, thought we could have stuck there longer but the captain and the bowlers came up with a decent plan and unfortunately it didn’t work.”ALSO READ: The puzzle of Mitchell’s stark strugglesStarc himself is the most under scrutiny of the bowling having taken 1 for 123 from 26 overs in the first innings which has taken his average in his last nine Tests to 46.05.David Saker, the bowling coach, then gave an interview where he revealed heated discussions in the changing room which Tim Paine later denied were as hostile as had been made out.”We talked quite heavily about the day, more because we thought it was a really disappointing day and we just wanted to get our point across,” Saker said. “Some of it was quite aggressive and that’s not like me usually. I was quite animated, and I know I was not the only one. JL [coach Justin Langer] wasn’t happy. The bowlers know that.”

Erik ten Hag responded to fans' booing as he explained why he replaced Kobbie Mainoo against Burnley.

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Ten Hag responds to fan criticismBooed for replacing Mainoo and HojlundUnited held to a 1-1 draw by BurnleyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Dutch manager faced backlash at Old Trafford on Saturday as fans booed his decision to substitute Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund with Scott McTominay and Amad Diallo respectively in the 65th minute. The Red Devils failed to hold on to their lead as Zeki Amdouni's 87th-minute strike from the penalty spot secured relegation-threatened Burnley a crucial away point.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After the match, Ten Hag defended his decision to replace the fan-favourite players as he claimed the young guns needed some rest. The Premier League giants have won just once in their last five league games and are now virtually out of the top-four race.

WHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

Speaking to reporters after the game, the United boss said, "What the crowd doesn't understand is it's a 19-year-old boy [Mainoo] in his first Premier League season. It was a third game in a week and we have to manage the game load. We don't want him to be injured. Last year, he had two bad injuries. You can see he gets tired. I want to protect him.

"Of course, by bringing Scott on, the game was really open, really intense with one-on-ones all over the pitch. Kobbie got tired and Scott had fresh legs and is very good, making movements and attacks down the middle."

"I have to manage the team and I have to, of course, be winning games. That's first of all and see what the game needs. By that time, we needed some freshness, first of all. But also tactical wise, brining a player up who can keep the ball and who is creative in Amad.

"So they were subbed and it was the right decision. You see, after, we took some benefit from it, by bringing in the fresh legs and Scott in the position where it's so open. He's very good in such situations and he can make penetrations from there. That also happened. We put ourselves in a winning position. We had three games and Burnley have had days off and it's totally logical to bring players off who are very young, who are in the first year in the Premier League and then don't even talk about the injury risk.

"Rasmus Hojlund had more injuries already in the course of this season. Kobbie also had some injuries. So I don't want them to get injured. I protected them as well. So there are more reasons to make the subs but I understand that the fans, they want to see the skills those players are bringing and contribute to the team. I understand that but I have to do my job and that is the right decision."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

Ten Hag's men will be next seen in action on May 7 as they travel to London to face Crystal Palace in a Premier League clash.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro segue em sua reta final com contornos dramáticos pensando na busca dos objetivos tanto para quem tenta o acesso como também a fuga do rebaixamento. Dentro desse contexto, o CSA venceu na noite da última terça-feira (19) o Botafogo-SP e retornou ao G-4 do torneio por conta também do tropeço do Juventude.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalCSA afunda Botafogo-SP e entra no G4 da Série BFutebol Nacional19/01/2021Futebol NacionalEm jogo que teve Valdívia com Covid e pênalti polêmico, CSA e Avaí só empatam na Série BFutebol Nacional16/01/2021Futebol NacionalCSA tropeça e perde a chance de se consolidar no G4Futebol Nacional14/01/2021

>Como está a tabela da Série B do Brasileirão

O atacante Pedro Lucas, que participou dos últimos dois gols do Azulão, falou sobre o resultado e agregou que o grau de concentração da equipe precisa ser máximo pensando no fato de restarem apenas dois compromissos para o fim da segunda divisão.

– Foi uma vitória muito importante, e os resultados das outras equipes nos ajudaram e muito. Voltamos de onde não deveríamos ter saído e agora a torcida pode esperar que vamos fazer de tudo para a manutenção desse G4. Falta tão pouco e não podemos bobear ou dar sopa para o azar. Fizemos um jogo seguro, fico feliz de poder ajudar nos gols e agora, mais que nunca, é foco total para podermos chegar ao fim do torneio com o objetivo garantido – disse.

O clube alagoano encara nas últimas rodadas do torneio o Brasil de Pelotas, no Rei Pelé, e encerra diante do Náutico na cidade de Recife.

Former Premier League boss Alan Pardew appeared on TalkSPORT this week to question why Ange Postecoglou isn't starting one Tottenham player.

Spurs absentee crisis worsens

Rodrigo Bentancur has been most recently added to the Spurs absentee list in another hammer blow for Postecoglou and Spurs. The Uruguayan fell victim to a reckless challenge from Aston Villa defender Matty Cash during Tottenham's 2-1 defeat to Unai Emery's side in north London on Sunday, coming after he had only just returned from a lengthy lay-off.

Bentancur joins James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Ashley Phillips and Pape Matar Sarr as the Spurs players either serving supension or injured, with Postecoglou suffering as a result.

Before Tottenham's 4-1 loss to Chelsea at the start of the month, they were enjoying an impressive 10-game unbeaten run which resulted in Postecoglou winning three Manager of the Month awards back-to-back. However, injuries and suspensions to star players since then have resulted in Spurs taking a major downward trajectory.

They've lost three consecutive Premier League games and are enduring their worst run of form since the Antonio Conte era, but their latest defeat to Villa was a pretty unlucky one in all fairness. Spurs created a plethora of openings, and if not for their wastefulness in front of goal, the outcome could've been very different.

One player who didn't take part was Eric Dier, with Emerson Royal and Ben Davies preferred as Postecoglou's starting centre-back pair.

Pardew suggests Ange needs to start Dier

The Englishman, who is out of contract next summer, could well leave Spurs in January as Bayern Munich reportedly plot a "shock" move for Dier. The fact Tottenham opted for Emerson and Davies against Villa perhaps speaks volumes about Postecoglou's fondness for Dier as a starter, but Pardew has questioned why on TalkSPORT.

Indeed, Pardew suggests Ange needs to be starting Dier at Spurs, insisting the 29-year-old has enough quality to make a difference.

“I don’t really know where the Dier thing is actually, because I know he’s made some errors in the past, but he’s a proper player,” he told TalkSPORT.

“He’s of a standard where you’d expect him to get a start at this point. I do know his family and knowing the lad a little bit, I’m sure he’s very, very disappointed.”

Since signing from Sporting Lisbon, Dier has been a regular at Spurs, and was a fixture under Conte. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to suit Postecoglou's aggressive high line.

"What I can tell you is that Eric has improved a lot since I arrived," said Conte on Dier last season. "We are talking about a reliable player, 100 per cent focused in every game. He is not a player who alternates with a big performance then a drop.

"He is providing great continuity in his role and playing every game. I can also tell you he is a really good guy, with great will, desire to work and improve. He knows he has space for improvement and I see every day in his eyes the desire to become stronger, to become a top defender."

Arsenal are enjoying another thrilling season of football this year and with 17 games gone, they currently find themselves atop the Premier League table with just one game to go until Christmas – a first vs second clash at Anfield.

Mikel Arteta's men might not be quite as free-flowing as they were last year, but their seriously impressive defensive displays have put them in pole position to end their two-decade title drought if they can maintain their current trajectory.

The board looks set to do all they can to help with that, as the latest player touted for a move to the Emirates could become the Gunners' own Rodri, and he has been far more impressive than Chelsea's Moises Caicedo to boot – Douglas Luiz.

Arsenal can sign the next Saliba in "insane" star who could fetch £86m

The young Dutchman could become one of the best defenders in the world.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 19, 2023 Arsenal transfer news – Douglas Luiz

According to ESPN, Arsenal are looking to shuffle their midfield setup in the January window and are seriously interested in adding Aston Villa's maestro to their ranks.

The Brazilian midfielder was the subject of two failed bids from the Gunners last summer but signed a new deal with the Villans in October 2022, which is set to run until 2026.

With three years to run on his current deal and his importance to the Claret and Blue, the transfer is likely going to be very costly, with former England international Joe Cole telling TNT Sports (via the Mirror) that he expects the 25-year-old to move for a fee comparable to Caicedo and Declan Rice, so in the £100m range.

The former Chelsea man seems to believe he is worth it, though, saying: "He has been performing in the same league as them, performing better than Caicedo, arguably."

And with how well he measures up to Manchester City's Rodri, it would be hard to disagree.

Douglas Luiz could be Arsenal's Rodri

Now, some might argue that the outstanding performances of summer signing Rice suggest there is no need for the club to go and break the bank for a player like Luiz. Still, his arrival would allow the Englishman to move into a left-eight role and have an even more significant impact on the game.

Furthermore, FBref has named Rodri the seventh most similar player to the former City midfielder across Europe's top five leagues, which is quite the compliment considering everything the Spaniard has achieved at the Etihad.

This similarity is evident when you compare the pair alongside Caicedo to test Cole's claim that the Villa star is outperforming the Ecuadorian.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion ace – who was linked with a move to the Emirates over the summer – comes last in every important comparative metric, while the other two trade blows and come out on top in various statistics.

Rather surprisingly, Luiz and Rodri produce the exact same non-penalty expected goals and assists figures, while the former is far more likely to cross the ball and the latter more likely to recover the ball.

Luiz

Rodri

Caicedo

0.24

0.24

0.09

4.94

9.47

4.92

2.27

2.14

0.61

3.38

0.38

0.45

1.56

1.37

1.14

2.99

3.36

2.88

0.00

0.15

0.08

6.56

7.71

5.83

Their defensive output isn't too far off either, with the "underrated" Luiz, as described by former Arsenal player Paul Merson, winning more of his tackles but Rodri making more tackles and interceptions overall.

Ultimately, if Arsenal can get this deal done, they absolutely should, as the opportunity to sign a Rodri-esque player doesn't come around often, and Rice would be given that bit more freedom to get involved in the attack as well.

It was perhaps fitting that Joe Root’s Big Bash stint ended with an inconclusive 0 not out off zero balls as the rain came down at Spotless Stadium in Sydney. The tournament never really got going for England’s Test captain, who now heads back to London before hopping on another flight to the Caribbean.He finished with 93 runs at 15.50, a strike-rate of 114.81 and a top score of 26. Some of the pitches made free-scoring tricky and he was dismissed by spin in four of his six innings. He batted No. 4 throughout, Callum Ferguson preferred at three after the powerful opening pairing of Jos Buttler and Shane Watson, when it has often been felt during his T20 career that his ideal spot is in the top three.”As an overseas player you come over and your main focus is to try and make big runs for your team but it hasn’t quite materialised the way I would have liked,” Root told the ahead of his final match. “I’ve made some good starts and feel my game has really come on in this format but, by my own standards, I don’t feel like I’ve produced scores I would have liked, which is disappointing.”Root had come to Australia with the hope of re-establishing his credentials in the T20 game. Nearly three years have passed since his starring role in England’s World T20 campaign, which was derailed at the last moment by Carlos Brathwaite. His 83 from 44 balls in the record chase against South Africa was a masterclass and his 56 in the final, coupled with two first-over wickets, was six balls away from being tournament-winning.Now, however, it feels as though his T20 career is in an uncertain place. Not because of an underwhelming Big Bash, but because of the bigger picture that made him seek out the opportunity in the first place, which came during a rare gap in England’s crowded schedule.Last year Root was rested for the T20 tri-series against Australia and New Zealand, although it took some persuading from Trevor Bayliss who could see the strain the 4-0 Ashes defeat and the associated dramas of that tour had had on his Test captain. He played just three T20Is last year, making a sprightly 34 against Australia before scores of 0 and 9 against India led to him being dropped for the series decider at Bristol. There are three T20Is in West Indies in March and it will be interesting to see if Root is selected. He didn’t play in the one-off match against Sri Lanka in October.The decision to allow him to come to Australia after the Sri Lanka tour split opinion. One view was that, given England’s hectic schedule for the next 18 months – and especially given the importance of the 2019 summer with a home World Cup and an Ashes series in quick succession – he should have taken the time off.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The other view is that careers are short and this trip came with minimal risks, as put forward by Nasser Hussain. “You have to think about the bigger picture,” Hussain wrote in the shortly before Root’s BBL stint. “The old fogey in you might question him playing Big Bash and then being rested from a one-dayer or the Ireland Test match next July, say. But look at the bigger picture: is it making Joe Root a better cricketer?”Well it should do and knowing Joe he will throw his heart and soul into it. He won’t go to sit on Coogee beach. This will all be about him improving. Down the line he might well feel a bit jaded. He might look back and wonder whether he needed to go but, given the choice of a few weeks there or freezing cold in Sheffield, it is a no-brainer.”When Root’s 50-over place was starting to be queried during a lull in scoring last year, any doubts about his importance were quickly shut down by back-to-back tons against India – the latter marked with an out-of-character “bat drop” celebration at Headingley. Even in England’s ultra-aggressive era there is room for Root. But, largely through no great fault of his own, the same may not hold true in the T20 game.It isn’t that Root’s game has regressed massively, it’s that he has had limited chances to evolve it since the World T20, and keep up with the best in the world (his Thunder team-mate Buttler, for example, who has led the scoring charts). Since that final in Kolkata in April 2016, Root has played four matches for Yorkshire in the T20 Blast across two seasons. His one outing in 2018 brought 51 off 22 balls against Lancashire at Old Trafford, a reminder that he still has the game when it all clicks.Besides, the T20 format will take a back seat for much of this year – there are bigger fish to fry with the World Cup and Ashes double that could define this generation of England cricketers. But it will come back into focus ahead of the World T20 in Australia in 2020. Root may at least have picked up some intel for that tournament, although it has to be hoped that the pitches for that tournament are better than for the BBL, and it would still be a surprise if he wasn’t back in Australia for that campaign.Root has every right to want to be the best he can be in all formats, and reaffirm his status among the world’s elite batsmen who stand atop the batting ranks in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. But at the moment it looks a challenging ask.

أثار غياب كريستيانو رونالدو عن مراسم تسليم الميداليات الفضية في نهائي كأس السوبر السعودي الكثير من التساؤلات حول الأسباب التي دفعته لاتخاذ هذا القرار المفاجئ.

وسقط النصر برباعية مُقابل هدف على يد الهلال في نهائي كأس السوبر السعودي، بعد أن كانت كتيبة كريستيانو رونالدو متقدمة بهدف.

وأوضح مصدر لـ “الرياضية” السعودية، أنه لا يوجد أي سبب آخر لابتعاد رونالدو عن مشهد تسلم الميداليات سوى غضبه وإحباطه من النتيجة، بعد أن تحول تقدم فريقه بهدف إلى هزيمة وانهيار الدفاع بشكل كامل.

طالع أيضًا | بعد غضب رونالدو.. صراع بين النصر والهلال على صفقة عربية قوية

وربما شعر رونالدو بالإحباط من أداء زملائه في الفريق، وعدم قدرتهم على الحفاظ على التقدم، وقد يكون الضغط النفسي الناتج عن التوقعات العالية التي تحيط به قد دفعه لاتخاذ هذا القرار العفوي.

يذكر، أن بطولة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين لموسم 2024-2025، ستنطلق يوم الخميس المُقبل الموافق 22 أغسطس.

ويستهل فريق النصر مشواره بالموسم الجديد باستضافة نظيره الرائد، بينما يفتتح الهلال “حامل اللقب” مبارياته بمواجهة الأخدود.

Ivan Rakitic has explained why Argentine legend Lionel Messi wasn't the perfect captain at Barcelona.

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• Messi captained Barcelona 2018-2021
• Rakitic played in that side
• Claims Messi was 'unique' captain

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Croatian midfielder, who played with Messi at Barcelona from 2014 to 2020, claimed the footballing legend wasn't the best at telling you 'what you had do to' while he captained the club.

  Messi was given the armband for three seasons from 2018 to 2021 following Andres Iniesta's exit, where he guided his side to the La Liga title in 2019.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT RAKITIC SAID

  “Messi is the best in history, and if he put his mind to it, he could be the best left back in the world if he wanted to!” he said via Diario AS.

  “Although he was sometimes not the best captain to tell you what you had to do, that was because he was unique and different.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Both players have since moved on from Barcelona, with Messi leaving in 2021 to join Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint Germain. The World Cup winner now plays in MLS with Inter Miami – where he was given the captaincy in 2024.

  Meanwhile, Rakitic returned to his former club Sevilla after parting ways with the Camp Nou. Before becoming one of many players in the twilight of their careers to accept a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League, where he represents Al-Shabab.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RAKITIC?

  Al-Shabab, who are tenth in the SPL, face Karim Benzema's Al-Ittihad side on Friday evening. Their next fixture will be played on May 4 against 13th placed Al-Raed.

  Elsewhere, Messi is enjoying an impressive start to the MLS campaign as Miami currently sit top of the Eastern Conference with 18 points across the opening ten games. The former Barcelona man has seven goals and six assists in six appearances.

England No. 3 backs bowlers to exploit awkward patch that was responsible for some difficult deliveries

Andrew Miller31-Jan-2019Despite another first-innings failure for England’s batsmen in Antigua, Jonny Bairstow believes his side have every chance of fighting back as the second Test develops, thanks to an awkward patch of grass – just short of a good length – that he feels was responsible for a number of England’s dismissals on a hard-fought opening day.Bairstow was one of the few players to seemed to have the measure of the conditions as he compiled a battling half-century from No. 3. However, his dismissal in the first over after lunch left the lower order in the hands of Moeen Ali and Ben Foakes, whose 85-run stand for the seventh wicket helped ensure a partial recovery from 93 for 6 to 187 all out.Throughout the day, England were given a torrid test of their mettle after losing the toss and being asked to bat first. Joe Root received an unplayable brute of a delivery that took off from that awkward length to dismiss him for 7, while Moeen also seemed to receive one that kicked into the splice as he miscued a drive to midwicket for 60.Ben Stokes was rapped a painful blow on the hands during his battling innings of 14, while Bairstow finished the day as England’s stand-in wicketkeeper, after Ben Foakes was also hit on the gloves in the course of his dismissal to a Shannon Gabriel short ball. Foakes did not take the field as West Indies reached 30 for 0 in 21 overs before the close, and may go for an X-ray in the morning after receiving ice treatment.”It was tough,” Bairstow told Sky Sports. “I don’t think you ever felt in. You always knew there was one that might bounce or keep low, especially when they’ve got three guys [Gabriel, Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph] who are well over six foot. They made us make decisions on a pitch that was bowler-friendly, certainly in the first couple of sessions.”If you look at the pitch, there’s two different grass types,” Bairstow added. “From where the balls were bouncing, there was either a ridge there or something to do with the grass, but unfortunately a few dismissals came from balls that made us play certain shots.”Bairstow’s response was a reprisal of England’s tactics during the Sri Lanka series before Christmas, when England responded to the spin-dominant conditions by taking a positive mindset and putting their runs on the board whenever the opportunity arose.It was an intelligently compiled innings, and one that showcased a tighter technique than had been the case at times last summer, when his tendency to stay leg-side of the ball had resulted in a few loose dismissals on the drive.”For me, if it was outside off, I would leave it alone unless it was short, then I’d throw the kitchen sink at it, to be honest!” Bairstow said. “And I’d wait for the one that was a bit too full, and try not to hit it too hard when I was driving, that was something I tried to concentrate on.”Previously, I’d gone a bit hard at the ball, but I’ve worked on my defensive game a bit more. I think it’s a case of understanding the situation you are coming in at. When I was coming in at No. 6 or 7, it was against a slightly older ball and guys who’ve bowled 10-12 overs. But at three, they’ve potentially got a new ball in hand, and are in their first spells. They are fresh, the pitch is fresh, so you’ve got to take account of that, what the ball’s doing, and the overhead conditions.”In the field, Bairstow said that he had been given about “eight minutes” warning that he would be reclaiming the gloves in Foakes’ absence, but after a few early fumbles, he settled into the role once more.”It’s difficult, but it’s like riding a bike, once you catch a few, you’re straight back into the rhythm. With the wind from the far end, a few wobbled, but we had a laugh and a joke, and I tripped over my feet a few times. But you’ve got to enjoy it, and hopefully Foakesy is fit tomorrow.”Tomorrow will be interesting,” he said. “I thought we bowled really well tonight, and were unlucky not to get a few nicks. The boys put the ball in the right areas, and to only be 30 off 21 overs is a testament to that fact. The ball went past the bat many, many times and on another day you’d nick a few.”

West Bromwich Albion secured an impressive 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday evening to strengthen their play-off hopes.

The Baggies have now won four of their last five matches to move up to fifth in the table and their performance against the promotion-chasing Tractor Boys was a sign of their progression under Carlos Corberan.

Statistically, the hosts restricted Ipswich to zero shots on target for the first time this season, as per Sofascore, and an expected goal (xG) of 0.23, compared to West Brom's 1.70.

Despite putting in a domineering display against quality opposition, Corberan could make some changes for their visit to fellow play-off chasers, Cardiff City, who snatched a dramatic victory over Preston North End last time out, scoring goals in the 96th and 99th minute.

No Phillips or Yokuslu in West Brom predicted lineup vs Cardiff

Carlos Corberan could make a couple of changes for West Brom’s mid-week game, despite the Baggies beating Ipswich Town 2-0 on Saturday.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 28, 2023

One man who could get dropped for this crunch fixture – purely for tactical reasons – is playmaker Alex Mowatt.

Alex Mowatt's performance in numbers against Ipswich Town

Mowatt has operated as a deep-lying playmaker for Corberan, dictating play from deep through his astute passing range, and that was no different against Ipswich.

He started alongside ball-winning midfielder Okay Yokuslu, who made the second-most tackles on the pitch for West Brom, while Mowatt made the most accurate passes.

The 28-year-old possesses incredible technical ability and his confidence in possession provided a strong platform for the hosts to start brightly, taking the lead through Darnell Furlong inside six minutes.

Statistics

Figure

Touches

58

Acc. passes

45/50 (90%)

Long balls (acc)

3 (2)

Dribble attempts (succ.)

1 (0)

Ground duels (won)

1 (0)

Tackles

0

All stats via Sofascore

As the table above delineates, the former Leeds United star is quality at distributing the ball, short or long, while his ability to win possession back and drive forward with the ball is lacking.

When entering the cauldron of the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night, winning the midfield battle will be crucial to whoever comes out on top and if Mowatt drops a similarly weak defensive display, he could hamper the Baggies' chances of recording a positive result.

That said, he could make way for all-action midfielder, Jayson Molumby, who possesses the sought-after attributes to cope with the danger posed by the likes of Callum Robinson and Karlan Grant.

Jayson Molumby's style of play

Molumby has been restricted to cameos from the bench in his last seven appearances this season but the ball-winning midfielder, who previously compared himself to Roy Keane, can offer an abundance of attributes that give him the upper hand over Mowatt.

Dubbed an "animal" by Corberan having shown his capabilities as a pressing machine last term, the £17k per-week titan can provide the Baggies with control in midfield and an ability to carry the ball from deep.

According to FBref, Molumby has averaged more progressive carries than Mowatt this term (1.39 v 0.82) and touches in the attacking penalty box (1.73 v 1.02), underscoring his importance as a press breaker and energetic ball carrier.

Despite averaging fewer tackles than Mowatt this term (1.5 v 0.7), this is largely down to the attacking responsibility he's ushered as opposed to him not being a tough tackler.If he does start against the Bluebirds, Corberan will hope Molumby can unleash an animalistic performance onto proceedings and help his side keep a stranglehold on the play-off places.