Jonny Drury and Lewis Cox bring you their take on the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Anthony Musaba put the relegation threatened hosts in front.
They were two up just after the break as Ike Ugo capitalised on some slack Albion defending.
And Josh Windass made it three midway through the half.
Albion had late chances but could not find a response - leaving the hope of securing a play-off spot on hold.
Anthony Musaba put the relegation threatened hosts in front.
They were two up just after the break as Ike Ugo capitalised on some slack Albion defending.
And Josh Windass made it three midway through the half.
Albion had late chances but could not find a response - leaving the hope of securing a play-off spot on hold.
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Hello, Baggies fans. Welcome to ExpressAndStart.com. My name is Jonny Drury. I'm here alongside
00:12 Albion correspondent Lewis Cox after Albion have been comprehensively beaten by relegation,
00:16 threatened Sheffield Wednesday here at Hillsborough. It was a pretty dire performance. We could
00:23 probably use a load of other descriptive words to sum up today. Cox, I've asked Albion fans
00:28 the same questions. What was that? Yeah, how long you got? Yeah, it wasn't good. Distinctly
00:36 second best, wasn't it? By some distance. Deservedly beaten. Three goal margin about
00:42 fair probably. Not far off. Didn't deserve for my money anything from today. Not long
00:51 spoke, finished speaking with Carlos Corbijn after just then. He was quite despondent,
00:58 I would say. Didn't have his usual sort of energy about him and maybe that's understandable.
01:05 Really poor scoreline. I thought today was going to be difficult, I have to admit. Sold
01:09 out place, so much on the line for Wednesday. We saw all that play out, didn't we? But I'm
01:14 not quite sure I saw a 3-0 home on the cards, Johnny. I don't know about others. Yeah, the
01:23 three goals were very poor, all three of them. I thought the goals actually typified Albion.
01:31 Carlos called them second phases, but rebounds from shots cleared, shots saved by Parma where
01:37 Wednesday Manzera to the ball to tuck in a rebound and where Albion on their heels, sort
01:42 of passive, not at the races. Really poor, obviously a third defeat on the spin. That
01:50 can't be ignored, can it? That's concerning. I think possibly an understatement. Final
01:57 game of the season at the Hawthorns next week, we all know. And obviously we know there's
02:00 a game on later, don't we, in Hull, which we're not going to focus on too much. And
02:06 Carlos Corbijn certainly didn't want to do that. But look, if Ipswich go and win at Hull,
02:11 the chat about the top six is a little bit moot because Albion are more or less there,
02:14 aren't they, because of a goal difference, a better goal difference of 11 or whatever.
02:17 So there is that. However, that's no tonic to three defeats on the spin, to today's performance
02:25 because of momentum heading into the playoffs and all of that. You want to be in good shape,
02:30 don't you? This is the first time Albion have lost three games in a row under Corbijn.
02:34 So they're in a slump, they're in a rut. They didn't turn up today, did they? They didn't
02:37 have the energy about them. Really, really disappointing. I would say I still think because
02:44 of the maths, don't get me wrong, Hull could win later and then we're really in a... Yeah,
02:48 Hull are looking to be massively boosted, aren't they, going into that tonight. And
02:52 that's going to really put the cats amongst the pigeons, isn't it? Let's be honest. And
02:57 you can hear the celebrations here. It's quite hard to focus. But if Hull win later, it makes
03:02 next week pretty unbearable to think about, really, doesn't it? Let's be honest. I know
03:07 you were struggling to cope today. Next week's not going to... Could be uncomfortable, to
03:12 say the least. There was probably two distinct things that I noticed today. One, you've referenced
03:19 it there in terms of that second phase, as we call it, from the shot. There was a distinct
03:24 difference between Albion's goals where they were slack, static, didn't react. The second
03:31 goal, the guys just jinked through and he scored. Wednesday were defending everything.
03:35 Wednesday were throwing bodies on the line and wanted to preserve a clean sheet, almost,
03:42 on top of the result. The other distinct difference, I've always been a huge admirer of Barry Bannon.
03:47 I think he's an unbelievable player at this level. He's also an excellent leader. From
03:52 the very off, he ran out of the tunnel, he dropped his kids down there, he went straight
03:55 up to the Kop and he got them going. And don't get me wrong, that didn't win Sheffield Wednesday
04:00 game. But the distinct difference is when Albion conceded two goals today, every single
04:04 Albion player on that pitch was standing around and looking at each other. They weren't saying
04:08 a word, there was no gestures, there was no trying to get each other up. Come on. It's
04:12 only two. Obviously when it goes to three, it's very difficult. When it was still two
04:15 nil, Albion were still in the game. That lack of leadership is something that this Carlos
04:20 Corbrandt team, along with other things, which I've got a piece going out soon, which I'm
04:24 writing at the moment, but I've written downstairs. This Albion side have almost dispelled those,
04:30 not myths, but those criticisms that have come from the team under Bruce, arguably the
04:35 team under Corbrandt a little bit last season when they were chasing the playoff position
04:39 and under Val, even as far back as Billich when they crawled over the line after that
04:44 COVID campaign. But those criticisms, including a lack of leadership, almost come back a bit
04:50 today. And that is, it feels, not strange saying that after that performance, but strange
04:55 that Albion are still, they're still favourites to get in the playoffs. Don't get me wrong,
04:59 they've had a very good season overall, but on the back of that, that worries me, even
05:03 if Albion get in the playoffs.
05:04 It was a desperately bad day and bad performance. Corbrandt did reference to me, I asked about
05:10 confidence and belief taking a hit these three defeats. He did reference Leicester last week,
05:15 a defeat, that's the bottom line. But as I think, I know you weren't there, but as I
05:19 think we all said, probably the best of play.
05:22 That performance last week makes this one even more frustrating. There's different,
05:28 you know, different catalysts, if you want to call it that, you know, this side battling
05:31 this side, this place was rocking today. These players have got to be, they've got to be
05:35 good enough to stand up to it.
05:37 Some people said to me they feared today because it meant more to the whole.
05:41 I was, I was, you know, I, I didn't expect Albion to, to come here and, you know, bowl
05:45 Sheffield Wednesday. If anything, I thought I'd be getting a draw today, but I didn't
05:49 expect him to fold like a deck of cards.
05:52 Just on your leadership point, I'll take you up. I agree about the reaction to the second
05:56 goal. I didn't even, well, you know, the second goal, I saw that and it didn't look the best.
06:03 It looked like a team sort of just tired, just sort of a bit of out of inspiration in
06:08 that moment in terms of today's game.
06:10 But that could be when I was on the wider point. But I think in terms of the captain,
06:13 I think Jed Wallace is a excellent leader. I do think that and I want to emphasize that.
06:20 Carlos Corban has always sung from the rooftops as a WN, Radio WN with Bommer packed up next
06:26 to us.
06:27 I'd like to, Penny for Bommer stalls.
06:28 Carlos Corban has always sung the praises of the qualities in the experienced players
06:33 in his squad in, in your likes of, I'm just thinking about Philip starting today and how
06:37 he works and how Bartley is. You don't hear negative sort of connotations of how they
06:43 are as a, but look, there are wider, wider conversations to be had here about an aging
06:49 squad being the wrong side.
06:51 But I suppose with an experienced aging squad, that's the oldest in the division. We shouldn't
06:56 have the lack of leadership how it looked today, but that was in one moment. It was
07:02 a, it was a bad performance. It was a bad day around. We can take very little from,
07:05 from that today. Just for some context, Baggy fans be able to read this on our website.
07:11 Carlos Corban wasn't overly critical of the first half, which I think possibly fair enough.
07:15 Fairly, fairly.
07:16 They had chances.
07:17 He said, look, game of set pieces, game of transitions from that. So, so counter-attacks
07:22 breaks. Albion, chances in the first half, not many, but there were set pieces. They
07:26 weren't taken. They didn't use their moments. Sheffield Wednesday did. Johnny's talked about
07:30 the difference in defending really. I thought the three goals were desperate and really
07:34 summed Albion up. Actually, you push Lou for the first and second, I have to say, on, on,
07:41 on his heels for both really. The second, especially he's got, yeah, he's got a chance to clear.
07:45 He's just kicked to air. The third, the third Bannon shot from distance, isn't it? When
07:51 he's given all the, all the freedom of Hillsborough to shoot and Palmers, Parry away is poor.
07:58 Windus can finish easily again, first to the, to the rebound. Yeah, 52 minutes, the second
08:04 goal went in and Carlos Corban sends on four subs. And I think despite conceding another
08:09 goal.
08:10 Is that a bit of panic?
08:11 I think it's because that's the question that I'll be in France have maybe asked. Certainly,
08:15 you know, there's referenced it a few times in terms of Albion have gone behind.
08:19 Panic, a realisation that have to make the change. I think we're quite maybe a little
08:23 bit surprised there were no subs at halftime, but maybe you give the side, you know, 10,
08:28 15 minutes and then start to make the changes. But clearly at two, no, Dan, you've got to
08:32 roll the dice big, big style. And a few, a couple of the players that came on, including
08:36 Swift later did okay. But look, the third goal, rinse and repeat too easy. And then
08:41 I'll be in start turning up at three. No doubt. You know, Corban referenced the final 20,
08:45 25 minutes when I'll be not a lot of chances, but the game's done.
08:48 I'm telling you, no, no, no, no. Chef Wednesday are protecting the lead. So that's a bit of
08:51 a moot point, really. I think we should cover the, the team selection to start from obviously
08:57 Phillips and via there's a few questions on that.
08:59 On that Phillips has come in fellows is on the bench and Envia has come in for Moet and
09:05 Coxie will either now explain it or it will be on an expression style later. I think you
09:10 can criticise maybe Carlos Corbans team section as I did. You know, I said to you, I think
09:14 you might've got it wrong today. However, I don't think it's a team selection lost out
09:19 in the game. What lost out in the game is the fact that Sheffield United wanted it more
09:22 Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, you won't win many Sheffield viewers like that before
09:27 I put this video up. But as a footballer, that is, that's like the ultimate criticism
09:32 in terms of they wanted it more. They fought more. And I think it was a case of more than
09:36 that. Don't get me wrong. I don't think the team selection was right. And Corbans not
09:39 going to get everything right. I don't think that was the main contributing factor to Albin
09:44 being beaten so comprehensively.
09:45 I think this is difficult because I'd have to listen back to what Carlos Corbin said
09:49 to me about the point about, so did you want to see more effort and determination? He,
09:53 he sort of rubbish that he said physically is nothing, which I, I mean, he sees the data
09:58 and the stats, but I'll, I'll win to me.
10:00 He's not going to come out and criticise. No, I guess not. Good manager doesn't at this
10:04 stage of the season with so much on the line, it's not the time is it to throw them under
10:08 the bus. I'll be surprised in that direction if he hasn't sort of strips off them. Yeah,
10:13 he should. Yeah. I've been to me second best to everything. Second to everything on the
10:18 heels. No more so than in the goals. Wednesday could have had plenty more. Let's be honest,
10:22 the post farmer save, um, bit of a long detox video. This isn't it?
10:29 It's just, I'm going to just sort of balance out. You know, it's hard to look for positives
10:34 today. A couple of fans have spoke today and stairs sort of dead. Well, an Ipswich win
10:37 would be a positive, but the fact that yes, it's three defeats on the bounce and yes,
10:41 that was pretty disgraceful, but I'll be in, have done the work to get themselves in this
10:48 position where they can, you know, it's still in their hands. Even if whole winter night,
10:53 I'll be in the fall of winning against Preston and at home, the home form is great. They
10:56 have almost done enough to allow them these, which they're not ideal. You know, no one
11:04 wants them. It should have been so enough by now. Everyone, including Kyle score, Brendan's
11:07 players will realize that, but it's not like Swansea on the last day of the season last
11:12 year where we've got to go and win and three results. I'll be in that have gotten this
11:16 position. They've been good enough to get in this position. They should be good enough
11:20 to get over the line. They should be. Well, just what, we'll get into that a very quick
11:23 stats to add some more context. It's one winning seven, 17 international break, isn't it? Which
11:27 is a little bit, but it starts, you can make them work out. You look, it was 10 on beating,
11:32 wasn't it? Five wins, five draws. And it was a little, it started to stutter a little bit.
11:36 And obviously now that the three defeats for me, I'm not, this is not me putting it on
11:41 Thomas Assante, but that red against Sunderland not so long ago. Good evening, gentlemen.
11:48 That that that red card at Sunderland was, it was a against Sunderland. Sorry. It was
11:51 a big, maybe turning point traps. You know, I'll be playing well in that first off. And
11:55 they put any of your thoughts, bomber, a shake of the head from Tony Brown.
12:01 We'll be, we'll, we'll, we'll be brilliant. There you go. We'll be all right. He said,
12:08 there we go. There we go. That's the positive. Thank you. Safe journey. Yeah. You make a
12:16 good point. And again, I think there's a wider conversation to be had about. We spoke about
12:21 it many times on videos on podcasts, suddenly about being fifth and not fifth any longer.
12:25 Yeah. Which feels odd. I mean, I don't have the universe is quite yeah. Obviously down
12:31 to six under Norwich. That weird men mental thing about being in the same position throughout
12:40 no kind of drama about going up, dropping down. I credited the players for maintaining
12:46 that consistency when lose draw the manage to ride it out.
12:51 They've given themselves enough of that buffer not to get, and that takes credit, but you
12:55 know, I'm not going to use the word complacency, even though I just said it, but I don't think
13:04 I don't for a second, I think I said subconscious complacency. I don't think it's the case of
13:10 Arvin of sort of players. I think when you're in full brand wouldn't stand for that and
13:14 he would drill the opposite to that. And that's what he's done in press conferences. But maybe
13:18 it's a human thing, you know, but let's be honest, we've reached the pressure point where
13:23 it's really finished the pressure.
13:26 Right. Frank, sir. And some some loud Wednesday friends in it and we've reached the pressure
13:33 point, the finish line and. And a bit of a wobble, I think, to say the least, so I guess
13:39 like as we're heading home tonight, let's see how it goes at all. And, you know, we'll
13:44 have plenty to write about and talk about this week, won't we? Before obviously Preston
13:48 next week. Let's see. Hopefully come ten o'clock tonight, I'll be in a sort of more or less
13:55 there. But I think like if we'll get points, I'll win this evening. We're in for a nervy
14:01 old week, aren't we? There's no two ways about it. And hopefully I can get over the line.
14:06 I still think they can. And once they do, hopefully before the playoffs start, a bit
14:09 of a reset, a bit of like, look, we're here now. Forget about the last few weeks, couple
14:13 months. We're in the playoffs. We can beat the team in third and fourth over two games
14:18 as I've been having times this season. Not Southampton, but the others. Yes, let's go
14:24 from there.
14:25 Yeah, let's go from there. A lot to digest after a bad, bad day at the office here at
14:30 Hillsborough. Final score Sheffield Wednesday three. I'll be nil. All the rest of your reaction
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