Dugout Discussion

Johnstone absent for West Brom after positive Covid-19 test as Boly returns for Wolves

West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (£4.5m) misses the Baggies’ first DGW19 fixture following a positive Covid-19 test.

Ahead of the Black Country derby at Molineux, Sam Allardyce explained:

Covid has kept out Sam [Johnstone] and Matt Phillips for us, as well as one or two other Under-23s that would probably have been in the squad.

Grady [Diangana] pulled or tweaked a hamstring, so we had to make a change there.

Asked by BT Sport what he has been trying to fix in training, Allardyce responded:

I’ve tried to fix the fact that we’ve got to stop conceding goals that are avoidable. Our concentration levels sometimes lapse, in split seconds and moments. It only takes the opposition a few seconds to exploit that. That is the focus when we’re out of possession.

In possession, it’s really about trying to get more quality in the final third. Create more chances in open play, which has been extremely difficult for us.

Wolves boss Nuno, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, said of his side’s recent leaky displays:

“We (have) made big mistakes, especially in defence. We must be compact and from there can grow positives. “We have to go back to our main foundation; a clean sheet.”

The Portuguese manager has duly reverted to a tried-and-tested back three. Nuno revealed in the embargoed section of his media offering that Willy Boly (£5.4m) would start for West Brom’s visit.

Boly is joined by Conor Coady (£4.9m) and Romain Saiss (£5.1m), while the Wolves teamsheet suggests that Pedro Neto (£6.0m) will operate at left wing-back.

The winger was a doubt for this afternoon’s kick-off, as was Adama Traoré (£6.1m). The latter also starts the match in a front two alongside Fabio Silva (£5.2m).

“Adama didn’t play the last game, he had a problem. He is better, so he is ready to go. Boly had an injury for some while and [now] he’s good.” – Nuno

Daniel Podence (£5.4m) remains sidelined, along with Jonny (£5.4m) and Marcal (£4.8m).

“Let’s see. We have Adama and Boly coming and joining (training). Let’s see how they are for tomorrow. We still have Daniel out. We have work to do. Jonny, Podence, Marcal are out.” – Nuno speaking on Friday

Wolves XI: Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Neto, Neves, Dendoncker, Semedo; Moutinho; Fabio Silva, A Traoré.

West Bromwich Albion XI: Button; Gibbs, Bartley, Ajayi, O’Shea; Snodgrass, Livermore, Sawyers; Grosicki, C Robinson, M Pereira.

1,347 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Johnstone owners in heaven!

    1. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Love it.

    2. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not really he still misses the double

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Confirmed? What if his last isolation day is before the game?

  2. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Relief for Johnstone owners

  3. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Bemba has the fastest Internet connection I've ever seen.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 2 months ago

        OMG

      • g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Lives in the hub

    2. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Silva lining for Johnstone owners

      1. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Nice.

      2. KAALI_DAAL
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Contact Bemba. He'll advise a nice internet provider.

    3. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      WBA keeping a clean sheet is going to hurt and if they keep 2 CS over the two games, more pain.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Facepalm

      2. Rochdale_Cowboy
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Like a vintage Rioja

    4. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thank god.

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Jesus that’s some scar on Jimmy’s head

      Great to see him back though

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This

      2. Weak Become Heros
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, everyone seems to have taken to him whatever club you support, even pre accident.

    6. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Very good composure. Been impressed with his strength give his slight build.

    7. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Worst kept secret: Ozil's contract looks set to be ripped up. Sad how it's come to this but best for both parties if he just moves on.

      https://theathletic.com/news/mesut-ozil-arsenal-transfer-football-soccer/AurZhJ7PCzav

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I presume there's a large settlement fee, perhaps payable in installments. Ozil was after the full 7m initially, supposedly.

        1. Milk, 1 Šuker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I imagine so. Article says he hasn't played since 7 March 2020 - wow!

      2. g40steve
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Still going to pay him just smaller amounts over longer period!

    8. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Love a nothing goal from Wolves.

    9. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Goaaaaaaaalll

    10. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Season over

    11. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Great finish and use of body

    12. Rochdale_Cowboy
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Not a bad game this. Good advert for the championship.

    13. Andy_Social
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Unbuttoned

    14. Big_Andy_GAWA
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Surely that goal was offside??!

      1. aleksaa2
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Man was lying on the ground.

      2. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        baggie on his knees playing them onside

    15. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      YES! Eat that f*cking goal Sam 🙂

    16. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Feel a miniscule bit better as a Johnstone bench booster

    17. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      O’Shea wagon de railed

    18. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Johnson would of saved that 🙂

    19. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      50 minutes until my flappy anxiety can descend into genuine anger or delight

    20. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      OMG Boly

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You’re so classic. So consistent.

    21. Captain Berbarossa - arrrrr…
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Let's be honest, this scoreline isn't affecting anybody really, besides making Johnstone owners feel a bit better

    22. Weak Become Heros
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      WE LOVE IT!

    23. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boly monster haul

    24. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boly on fire

      1. Pukki Party
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Even involved in the penalty incident

    25. aleksaa2
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boly gonna have 40p

    26. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boly

    27. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Monster haul from Boly

    28. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Boly G & A already lol