Jonny Drury and Lewis Cox discuss Albion's 2-0 win over Cardiff.
Albion were ahead after just 30 seconds as Mikey Johnston marks his debut with a goal - as he turned home Tom Fellows' cross.
Albion were then frustrated by a deep Cardiff side - but on the break Jed Wallace cross from Andi Weimann to wrap up the win late on.
Albion were ahead after just 30 seconds as Mikey Johnston marks his debut with a goal - as he turned home Tom Fellows' cross.
Albion were then frustrated by a deep Cardiff side - but on the break Jed Wallace cross from Andi Weimann to wrap up the win late on.
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00:00 [Intro Music]
00:07 Baggies fans, welcome to ExpressAndStart.com. My name is Jonny Drury. As always, I'm here with Albion correspondent, Lewis Cox.
00:14 After Albion have won again five home wins on the bounce now in the league for Albion, a 2-0 win. First goal after just 30 seconds on his debut for Nike Johnson.
00:23 29. 29, was it? 29. I don't know. I think so.
00:27 You've been saying 30 seconds all game. You've hardly done it.
00:30 Someone else said 29. Don't believe everything that you hear.
00:34 First goal after seconds anyway. Second goal after 80 or so minutes from Andreas Feyenoord. Coxie, frustrating at times, but, you know, good win in the context of things really.
00:43 Yeah, not a classic, was it? But every point, every win is as important as this. This is as big a win tonight as Friday on, you know, Friday against Southampton, isn't it?
00:55 Really much different opposition and maybe Friday would be more of a statement, but three points is three points.
01:01 Cardiff are 14th, just kind of very on the tails, fringes of pushing for the top six.
01:06 And yeah, I think a goal that early changes everything in the game, doesn't it? Changes the dynamic of it.
01:13 I mean, there'll be fans listening to this. They've seen that tonight.
01:17 It'll be rightly questioning, well, why did we just sit off after one goal? Why didn't we go for the second and third?
01:23 And to be fair, Carlos Corbijn in his press conference has addressed it straight away, hasn't he? Within his first answer, he was like, look, we faced a Cardiff change of shape.
01:32 A shape that we haven't seen them play all season. A shape that they're surprised by that we haven't faced this season.
01:38 And he basically said we struggled with it, really. We didn't do what we have to do to keep getting in beyond that shape, beyond that first goal.
01:46 Very little goal mouth incidents of note, really, to talk of, was there?
01:50 And it got a bit edgy because it stayed at 1-0. And Albin were in such cruise control, weren't they, with the ball.
01:55 Cardiff were only getting in off the odd straight pass of Albin's, weren't they?
02:00 But until, what, 60, 70 minutes where obviously Aaron Ramsey and a number of Cardiff subs come off the bench and could have equalised, let's be honest.
02:08 Keanu Teta shot over, didn't he? And he was really in. That was a massive chance and a massive let off, I think.
02:13 A bit of a sliding doors moment because Albin then go and get the second through Vajman and we're all happy.
02:18 The January signings, the subs have made the difference again and a new theme, I think, as we spoke about last time we were here,
02:25 before Ipswich against Blues and these options are already coming to the fore, aren't they?
02:29 Yeah, I just want to single out one. I've just done some player ratings and Okai Kusla, I thought he was poor in the first 10 or 15 minutes, give the ball away three times.
02:36 But after that, I thought he was exceptional. And for me, in that position at the moment, he played really well on Saturday Ipswich.
02:43 I know he had to go into the back four, but a lot of his work, I think, when I noticed tonight, for me,
02:48 he's the best central defensive midfielder in the division on current form.
02:52 And he makes such a difference without making an obvious difference.
02:55 Yeah, yeah. I think he's consistently good, really, isn't he? And we're probably reflecting that player ratings.
03:02 Yeah, seven out of 10 is by no means an insult, by the way, but for him, it's almost like a base, isn't it?
03:07 Whereas most players have a base of six. But when he's on it, you can really tell, can't you?
03:12 Because he's a cut above most at this level when he's on it. We saw it at Ipswich the other night, I agree with you.
03:17 He grew into it tonight, didn't he? And said it so many times.
03:21 The way he just looks after the ball and traps it and can move beyond a couple of bodies around him is kind of mesmerising, to be honest.
03:28 I just really enjoy watching him. I'm a huge fan of Alex Mowat next to him as well, to be honest.
03:33 And I think this season, Mowat's been quality. And of late, last couple of games, he's been really good, Mowat.
03:38 And they dovetail each other brilliantly in the middle of the park. But I agree with you about your cushioning.
03:43 Yeah, good times. Fifth straight league winner. And I think as well as the options I mentioned in terms of the depth
03:51 and now the competition and being able to rest and rotate, bring quality attackers off the bench,
03:55 having that record here as well. I mean, it's just existed for all of Corbyn's reign, hasn't it?
04:01 But it's more important now than ever. Five straight league wins here. Obviously, that's put to the test on Friday night.
04:06 If that becomes six, then I think we're getting a bit more excited, aren't we? But what is it? Gap? Four point gap to seven.
04:12 So, Albin are quietly and efficiently doing their business. Look, no one will remember tonight's performance, will they?
04:18 But in a few months, we'll look back and sort of think, can we remember how 2-0 win over Cardiff?
04:24 But look, for Mikey Johnson, it's a massive night. For Andy Vireman, it's another big night, isn't it?
04:28 Jade Wallace being able to be rested, coming off the bench to set that goal up. Yeah, Albin are in a good place now.
04:35 I think despite some bodies not being around, we know about DK, obviously. Unfortunately, we're doing a pod later, aren't we?
04:41 We'll go into depth on that. And the African Cup of Nations boys not involved tonight.
04:46 A couple of bodies to get back in and around it. But Albin, looking in a good place.
04:52 I was almost going to say looking like they don't need a couple of bodies back, but I think they do.
04:55 And I think they will welcome a couple of bodies back. But yeah, really positive night, I think, overall.
05:01 Despite maybe not the electric performance of 90 minutes.
05:05 Yeah, positive night indeed. Four points from two games this week. If they can make it another three on Friday, it will be a very good seven days indeed.
05:13 Our score here at the Hawthorns, Albin 2, Cardiff 0. All the reaction expressed at Sire.com.
05:17 And as Coxie said, we'll be doing a podcast later. We'll be going into a little bit more depth on tonight and everything to do with Albin. So do tune in.