This article is part of Football FanCast’s Off the Bench series, which places in-game managerial decisions and squad selections under FFC’s microscope.
West Bromwich Albion retained their crown at the top of the Championship table on Monday night with a 1-0 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale.
Snapshot
The Baggies were largely poor by their standards, being restricted to six of their 11 attempts at goal from outside the area while the likes of Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira and Hal Robson-Kanu were largely anonymous and were found wanting, neither averaging over a 6.8 rating by SofaScore.
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With the game looking destined for 0-0, Albion boss Slaven Bilic made the first of his substitutions in the 61st minute by introducing Kyle Edwards, surprisingly in the place of Matty Phillips, rather than Diangana.
But it paid off as he would be the man to set up the chance for fellow substitute Charlie Austin.
Off the Bench
Edwards proved to be a major attacking threat in the short time he was in the pitch, managing two successful dribbles, winning four ground duels while also picking up two set-pieces, including the one that led to the winner.
In the final minute of the match, the 21-year-old burst into the box before going down under a challenge from home goalkeeper Declan Rudd – dive or not, the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation.
To which, Austin duly stepped up and dispatched for his fourth of the campaign and third in as many games.
It was a bold call to withdraw Phillips, who has scored six and assisted two goals this term, for a player that has struggled for much game time in recent months having started just one match since August, but it paid dividends.
Bilic has often been spot on with his substitutions, and this is surely the icing on the cake as the decision as essentially put the Baggies back in pole position while at the same time sending a statement to the rest of the league that they can deal with whatever is thrown at him.
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In other news, one of Edwards’ teammates thrived against Preston despite being asked to perform in a different role…
