West Brom debrief: Squad minutes, chances taken and missed and happy owner

Lewis Cox assessing some talking points from the success over the Millers.

Rotation or resources

Corberan was asked about his decision to leave out Alex Mowatt, Conor Townsend and Grady Diangana from the off, while skipper Jed Wallace missed out with illness.

The head coach insisted it was an opportunity to use the squad's "resources", by that he meant allow the trio – Mowatt and Townsend remained unused subs – an evening off to recover sharpness and in doing so build up minutes and match fitness to Adam Reach, Yann M'Vila and Swift, among others.

Corberan has always preached the squad game and his Albion squad is as stacked as it has ever been in his 18 months at The Hawthorns now. Relegated Rotherham at home was a generous fixture and the hosts were afforded the luxury of changes, Corberan would never state that and praised the Millers' spirit, but in reality some of Albion's back-up troops were able to build themselves up while the star cast had a night off.

Reliable Reach

I wrote after the recent comeback draw at home against Watford how Reach's introduction as a central midfielder, next to M'Vila, played a big part in his side's response.

But this time Reach's experienced versatility shone through in a different role, with 90 minutes at left-back. He kept his cool with a fine low cross for Thomas-Asante's opener for a first goal contribution since May 2022.

Reach was generally strong all night and his side's standout performer. A timely reminder to Corberan of the different qualities to Townsend he possesses at left-back.

Brandon's regrets

The 12-goal top scorer's opener was exactly what we want more of from him – a poacher's finish from three yards out.

Sadly, Thomas-Asante may well have left The Hawthorns with regrets at not adding to his tally against the largely dispirited Millers. He was denied by Viktor Johansson when trying to lift over the goalkeeper, couldn't stretch to meet a cross by sub Matt Phillips and, the clearest chance squandered, fired over from six yards out late on.

He should've bagged another two and had the matchball before being replaced by the very welcome sight of a returning Josh Maja. Progress, in a way, with the chance he took, but a reminder of work to do for the frontman. His tally of a dozen is good, but it could be more.

Shilen success

A fifth match in-person for Albion's Florida-based owner and he finally enjoyed cheering on a victory after defeat to Southampton and draws against QPR, Millwall and Watford.

While Patel clearly won't attend every fixture, his presence at games is largely viewed as "the norm", which says a lot about his commitment and energy in these early days for a round trip that would take him around 24 hours.

The chairman tweeted afterwards: "Great to see my first win in person. Even better that I don’t have to ban myself from the stands. Let’s do it again Saturday! #COYB" – fans had joked how the owner might have to stay away if his winless run extended.

Further evidence here that Patel 'gets it', and his attitude and commitment early on has been music to supporters' ears. Corberan smiled in response to the owner's "ban" quip afterwards and replied: "Important as a team we achieved the result being with him, because we always want to give the best to our people and without doubt he is a key person for the club and it is important to achieve the three points."

Job nearly done

Victory put nine points between the Baggies and the chasing duo of Coventry and Preston in seventh and eighth respectively.

Both clubs, with a game in hand over Albion, can only achieve 15 points with five games left. That means an Albion win over Sunderland on Saturday, with generous results elsewhere, could put Corberan's side on the brink of mathematically securing the play-offs.

The head coach added on Wednesday night he is still not interested in play-off talk and will only address a position after game 46, but to have secured play-off football before the final game of the season will be a welcome relief – even if it has felt that Albion's fifth place, held for a number of months, has been theirs for some time.