'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
West Bromwich Albion vs Crystal Palace
Goals from Saido Berahino and Gareth McCauley handed West Brom their first win in four as The Baggies overcame managerless Crystal Palace by 2-0 at The Hawthorns.
Key Stats:
The key statistics from this game show that the contest was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests. Palace had more shots overall (12) than West Brom did and we know, statistics don’t paint the whole picture, but when one team has more shots than the team they get beat by, questions have to asked of the beaten team’s strikers and why weren’t at least one of those 12 chances converted? One other fact that could pose questions as to why The Eagles didn’t get anything out of the game is the tackle success: West Brom had a significantly higher tackle success rate (84%) than Palace (62%).
Man of the Match:
The fact Boaz Myhill was announced as our Man of the Match shows that Palace had chances. Myhill made four very good, agile saves. The Welsh ‘keeper was outstanding throughout the game and quashed any fears of extra goals being conceded when Ben Foster was ruled out for a long period of time through injury, The Baggies would have no real back-up and therefore start conceding multiple goals.
Performance Score:
The Squawka Performance Score from this game gives an insight into the ebb and flow of the game – the first-half was very much mixed in terms of who was on top both teams shared the same number of shots on target and, in hindsight, it was a crucial half in terms of the fortunes of Crystal Palace. They had three very good shots on the West Brom goal yet no shot ended up in The Baggies’ net. Once West Brom got their goal through a very good Saido Berahino strike, the Midlands side stayed on top throughout the rest of the match.
Key Observation:
Although much of this article has been dominated by the failure of Crystal Palace to score, the key observation is how West Brom should have scored more than two goals. As you can see from the screenshot of West Brom’s crosses from the game below, The Baggies were only successful on three occasions from a possible 28. This is poor considering West Brom, by playing 28 crosses, obviously feel as though they can score and create chances from out wide – this wasn’t the case during this game and although The Baggies won the game, Steve Clarke and his backroom staff will be working on West Brom’s crossing ability.
