West Bromwich Albion were looking to get their playoff push back on track having lost back-to-back games, against a Coventry side that had just ended a three-game losing run with a victory over Huddersfield Town last weekend. The visitors started at a terrific tempo and came close to taking the lead when top scorer Viktor Gyökeres met a low Jamie Allen cross which went agonisingly wide of the post. However, the Baggies were on a six-home league win streak and unsurprisingly settled into the game, deservedly taking the lead inside 15 minutes when Grady Diangana swept home at the back post after Jed Wallace flicked on a long throw from Darnell Furlong.
Following his January switch from Leicester City, debutant Marc Albrighton introduced himself brilliantly to his new home fans, linking up electrically with Wallace in the first half to carve out two chances that just went wide, leaving the scores level at the break. City keeper Ben Wilson was immediately called into action after the restart, closing down Daryl Dike to limit the striker to an angled shot from a bouncing ball that was well saved. Mark Robins, dissatisfied with what he had seen so far, turned to his bench on the hour mark, making a triple substitution to try to get his side in the game.
Coventry appeared to have a new lease of life following the changes and almost drew level courtesy of a fantastic Gustavo Hamer free-kick that was brilliantly tipped wide by David Button. John Swift was spared an embarrassing error after giving the ball away to Gyökeres on the edge of his own area, luckily for him, the Swedish striker blazed his effort over the bar. The hosts did well to see out the rest of the game to claim all three points and move up to fifth in the Championship, despite their best efforts Coventry remain down in 13th.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion)
