Player ratings vs. West Brom

Disaster! Catastrophe! Unless we win at Watford, in which case it's probably just a part of the general variance anyway.

Here are my ratings:

Schmeichel: 6 - A couple of fantastic pieces of distribution, but perhaps could have done better for the first goal.
Simpson: 7 - Didn't really impose himself on the game, although he did make a couple of very good interceptions in dangerous moments.
Morgan: 7 - Epitomised how hard we were trying going forward, although a little messy at the back.
Huth: 5 - Made a misjudgement for the first goal and consistently pressured by West Brom. Not his best.
Fuchs: 7 - Tidy, read the game well and notable by his absence when subbed.
Mahrez: 8 - Yes, he handballed for West Brom's second; yes, he tried the spectacular at the end when he could have headed back across goal; but he was a constant threat today, particularly in the first half, and it was good to see him showing some of the form that got him noticed earlier in the season.
Drinkwater: 8 - His goal was fortunate, but he was at the heart of most good moves we put together. My choice for our MOTM.
King: 7 - While I wasn't looking for him to emulate Kante, he wasn't as strong defensively as I would have liked. Took his goal well and calmly however.
Albrighton: 7 - Got involved in some good moves down the left in the first half, and it was his cross from which Mahrez got his great assist.
Okazaki: 7 - Put himself about well, just lacking composure or luck in front of the goal. I suspect he knew he was only getting 60 minutes.
Vardy: 6 - Struggled to find space against a deep and unadventurous West Brom back line, although this provided more space for Mahrez. Again lacked a little composure in front of goal for me.

Schlupp: 7 - Lively and dangerous on the left wing; ponderous and overly cautious when moved to left back.
Ulloa: 6 - Put himself about well but didn't quite have the same effect as he did against Norwich.
Gray: 5 - Looks increasingly like he won't be able to have a positive impact on the rest of this season. One for the future.


4 points from the Norwich and West Brom games was a fair return, even if the manner in which we got the points was somewhat back-to-front. That's not to say that West Brom were poor - although their defenders stayed deep, they were keen to attack and particularly to put our own defenders under pressure when we had the ball at the back. The result was merely a shame on the basis that we played well rather than the Baggies playing badly. However, their jinx over us at the King Power stadium ultimately continued.

Over to West Ham now, in one of the biggest matches of the season so far.