Lewis Cox debrief: West Brom offer new depth solution amid Wallace worry as Sarmiento grabs chance

The Baggies have lifted themselves firmly among the promotion contenders ahead of arguably the biggest test of Corberan’s 13-month tenure on Saturday as leaders Leicester come to town.

Wallace worry

There is an obvious concern for Saturday lunchtime’s clash and that is the untimely shoulder injury for captain Jed Wallace.

He trudged off after 20 minutes in Cardiff having tried to play on for the best part of 15. Scans will determine the extent of the damage but appearing on Saturday is unlikely.

Wallace’s start to the campaign wasn’t easy but he made great strides in recent matches and will be unlucky to miss this big one. His running power, threat from out wide with crosses and general leadership qualities will be missed.

Even when not delivering assists and creating, Wallace is key in driving Albion’s physical standards.

New-found depth

Fear not, though, as all of a sudden head coach Corberan has options available to him – and I’d imagine it feels good.

It was telling in Cardiff that he could afford to leave out Matt Phillips – for the first time in the league – and Brandon Thomas-Asante and still go strong.

Just look at the changes he made. Thomas-Asante, Phillips, Josh Maja, Tom Fellows, Jayson Molumby. Quality in reserve and they all influenced the contest. And that is before even mentioning match-winner Jeremy Sarmiento, who grabbed his starting chance with a super match-winner.

Wallace’s absence is a blow. But for the first time this season, Albion can cope.

Sarmiento statement

Very few predicted him a start at Cardiff City Stadium. He took a little while to get going, understandably so, but get going he did!

It was a generally slow first half hour from the visitors, but Sarmiento hit the post after a lightning counter-attack soon after, and it sparked some life.

The on-loan Brighton trickster’s moment of magic came five minutes after the restart and was a snapshot of his individual quality. Even on an off-night – not that this was – he can produce a moment of ‘magic’, as his Albion chant goes.

Corberan, methodically, highlighted his overall development in relation to decision-making, when to dribble one-v-one, when to switch play to the opposite winger. It was a huge night in the Ecuadorian’s progress. He has definitely arrived now.

Tight at the back

Until the Foxes played at Sheffield Wednesday last night, at least, Albion led the way for Championship clean sheets with nine shutouts in 18 games – their current run is actually a phenomenal nine clean sheets in their last 13 games!

Corberan’s mantra when it comes to this more is “attack more so we defend less... and when we defend, we’re solid.” It’s hard to argue with at the moment.

Cedric Kipre and Kyle Bartley have been immense. Albion’s full-backs, often-maligned, have been steady.

It’s interesting to note Albion’s last four games, a tough old run against Hull, Southampton, Ipswich and Cardiff, have been with a back four. The head coach tried a defensive four at the start of the season but leaked goals and switched to a five for solidity. Now, in Corberan’s words, they are “more comfortable.”

The Spaniard said: “I watched the team more stable with a better connections. I think we grow in defence in general.

“At the beginning I didn’t see the team comfortable with a (defensive) line of four, that’s why we changed to a line of five. I think the team is now more comfortable playing with a line of four.”

Few would have necessarily predicted Bartley’s key role in this run. He has returned as an utterly dominant figure. From the home stalemate with Millwall in September, the 32-year-old has achieved eight clean sheets in 11 games. Outstanding.