It may have ended in yet another Premier League defeat for West Brom, but there’s no questioning that there were plenty of positives to take from the game against Everton on Thursday night.
The Baggies were left to walk away with nothing after a strike from Richarlison, but Sam Allardyce’s men put in one of their more impressive displays of the campaign and were desperately unlucky not to at least grab a point.
They managed the same number of shots and shots on target as the visitors, with Jordan Pickford forced into making a couple of fines saves on the night.
But, one man who let his manager down with a truly woeful display was Matheus Pereira.
Should Pereira be dropped?
Yes!
No!
The winger looked completely out of sorts going forward, being extremely sloppy in possession and causing any potential counter-attacks and dangerous moves to break down – as per Sofascore, he lost possession 24 times, which was the joint-most of any Baggies player on the pitch.
He also failed to provide a single key pass – something that three of the Baggies’ back-line managed – and missed the target with all six of the crosses that he attempted.
In his post-match player ratings for the Birmingham Mail, Joseph Chapman gave him a 5 (the lowest of any West Brom player), and wrote: “A bit like on Saturday against Brighton, he wasn’t at the races in the first period. Passes went astray, moves fell down when they reached him.
“That’s unlike Pereira, who knows already that Allardyce won’t hesitate to change things up. Marginally better in the second but must rediscover that spark.”
That point about Allardyce not being hesitate to “change things up” should result in Pereira being dropped from the Baggies’ next game.
The 24-year-old has failed to score or assist in his last six Premier League games, and his latest howler should see the West Brom boss take the initiative and leave him out against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Carlton Palmer has exclusively delivered his verdict on West Brom…