West Brom fans slam the EFL after manager Valerien Ismael makes a post-match confession after his side won 1-0 against Reading on Saturday.
Callum Robinson got his first club goal in over three months to help the Covid-hit Baggies side to a deserved victory against their struggling opposition at The Hawthorns.
Robinson, whose hadn’t scored for West Brom since the 18th of August, put one in the back of the net just past the hour after hosts missed a numbers of chances.
A second successive victory lifts Ismael’s side up to within three points of second-placed Bournemouth and extended the only unbeaten home record in the Championship to 11 matches.
West Brom were missing a trio of defenders – Matt Clarke, Semi Ajayi and Conor Townsend – all due to coronavirus whilse midfielder Grady Diangana was through an unrelated illness.
Robinson could have given his side a bigger win, being guilty of missing three early opportunities, the first a low shot on the turn but was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Luke Southwood, then he dragged a drive wide from 20 yards.
Baggies midfielder Alex Mowatt produced the first serious save when his firm drive was tipped around the post by Southwood.
Robinson then glanced wide after Liam Moore missed from Adam Reach’s cross, Karlan Grant blazed the ball over and Jayson Molumby sent a 30-yard drive straight at Southwood all before getting the opener.
New Reading signing Andy Carroll was an surprise defensive hero for his side, twice heading off the line and going viral when doing so.
He threw his head to Mowatt’s corner that looked like it might have gone under the bar, before then thwarting Robinson’s bouncing follow-up with a diving header.
Andy Carroll, how have you managed that 😳😳😳 #ReadingFC #WBA pic.twitter.com/WSk4KwMrOL
— 106 Chat (@106Chat) December 11, 2021
The deadlock was finally broken by Albion in the 61st minute after Robinson got on the end of Grant’s cross and it went in off the underside of the bar.
West Brom’s Valerien Ismael: “We tried to postpone the game but the EFL forced us to play. It wasn’t only positive cases – some had symptoms as well. We explained to the EFL and the doctor from the EFL said it was an outbreak but they forced us to play. I’m more than proud and I congratulate the guys. You can’t imagine what a very difficult week this has been. Every day a player came in with symptoms and tested negative then tested positive.
“There were staff members as well and other people who work at the club. It was a very difficult week to manage and after the press conference on Friday, we had another two positive cases. We didn’t want to complain or look for excuses. We accepted the challenge and we got our reward.
“After a difficult week it could be a massive push for us When you consider the circumstances, it was a great win, that’s for sure, but even more for the players to create that mentality.”
Reading’s Veljko Paunovic: “It was not a great first half, but we did have a great chance to take the lead. I didn’t like that we had so little possession, but we have to be much more clinical and ruthless. In the second half we looked better, but we still left them too much space to come in and easily execute the goal. Overall, it wasn’t a bad performance but it was definitely not the result we were looking for.
“We missed important players and we had a lack of power. There were some good individual performances but we need to put all the pieces together. I think the mentality I see here is always negative. I’m talking about the environment. But we have no time or room for negativity. We are where we are and we know why we are where we are. We also know what we have to do, so there is no room for negativity.”
As mentioned, West Brom fans slam the EFL after their manager makes a post-match confession while others had something else to say on it…
All things considered, what a bloody win btw. Can’t knock Albion’s defensive record. Haven’t conceded more than once in a game since Fulham
— Joe Chapman (@ChapmanJ92) December 11, 2021
Fuck you @EFL
— L (@WBALLLLL) December 11, 2021
@LaneHalfords: Not surprised the EFL ruled against us.
@Mogster97: Fuck the EFL. Bet they’re gutted we won
@thenathkinsell: I’m shocked at the idea of the EFL being a shower of shit. #wba
@__Hashar9: Thats a joke. @EFL shame on you
@BOBTAYL01081689: Forced us to play even though it’s classed as an outbreak… That’s rank… The win… The 3 points…. Worth even more now. Properly well done. #wba #WBAREA #EFL
@byronparsons05: FUCK THE EFL
@lukestokes84: That shows the spirit of squad today. All this crap of ‘he’s lost the dressing room’ watch that game, brilliant considering. And only 3 behind Bournemouth and 5 Fulham. Well done baggies
@BunnGeoff: Good! Because it backfired on the EFL and their “love in” with Fulham and Bournemouth. COYB.
@Bendall04385155: @EFL is this a joke ????
@AllThingsWBAFC: Precedent set
@MMatthewsop: Only Spurs can get games called off 🙄
@antplant01: It’s all about the money 💵💵💵💵💸💸💷💷 FUCK EFL
@Daws_WBA: Fuck you @EFL scumbags
@Luis__C11: The EFL being cunts again what a surprise
@WB_A_: Silly twats
@stevemaher34: Spurs got there game postponed I don’t understand the difference or is cause it’s corrupt efl
@TheRainbowStand: Fuck the @EFL
@dunnda: Bet the EFL are gutted we won and both the golden bollocks dropped points 🤣
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