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. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Oluwasemilogo Adesewo Ibidapo Ajayi ... That's quite a name

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      AJ for short

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Almost as good as Kevin Oghenetega Tamaraebi Bakumo-Abraham

    3. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      As a Yoruba name, three of those names are probably complete sentences/clauses when said out in full and translated. Three different unrelated sentences, and then Ajayi

  2. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    WOL conceded for fun ... Benteke [C] GW21

  3. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonio starts

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Thank you DGW

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

      Excellent

  4. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No Messlier, ouch!

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

      BB in tatters

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

    Bam.

  6. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    No meslier

  7. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    LEEDS TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Brighton: Casilla, Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Struijk, Alioski, raphina, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison, Bamford.

    Subs: Caprile, Poveda-Ocampo, Roberts, Llorente, Costa, Hernandez, Dais, Shackleton, Jenkins.

    BRIGHTON TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Leeds: Sanchez, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Veltman, White, Gross, Mac Allister, March, Trossard, Maupay.

    Subs: Walton, Bissouma, Alzate, Tau, Propper, Zeqiri, Sanders, Jenks, Khadra.

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

      Relieved to see Bam in there .. BB still looking good

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

    WEST HAM XI:

    Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals, Antonio.

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio fail incoming

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cresswell - Soucek - Antonio 😎

      Looking forward to counting my 3pts at full time....

      1. Das Boot
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Dawson souk antonio here Jaf. Good luck

  9. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Antonioo

  10. Dont give a fuchs
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Yesss. Fab starts

  11. yousunkmybattleship
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    lol Johnstone and Meslier in goal worked well

  12. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m loving this gw already 😆

    • Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      WEST HAM TEAM NEWS

      Team to play Burnley: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Creswell, Rice, Benrahma, Bowen, Soucek, Fornals, Antonio

      Subs: Randolph, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Alves, Noble, Diop, Fredericks, Johnson, Odubeko

      BURNLEY TEAM NEWS

      Team to play West Ham: Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters, Brady, Westwood, Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Barnes, Wood

      Subs: Norris, Cork, McNeil, Stephens, Rodriguez, Bardsley, Vydra, Long, Benson

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

      Yes fabianski coufal double lets gooo

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Leeds fans delighted with Casilla starting...

      https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1350442719848624136

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

        That’s hilarious

      2. Boly Would
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Delighted the Southampton games off so Meslier might only miss one!

    • yanky
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      asking seriously since i know covid is more important than fpl— but whats the point in ruling not to leak names of positive players before matches? whats the benefit/protection?

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

        Health anonymity ... but it seems a bit stupid

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

        I think telling the name only helps? As all people who were unclose contact can get themselves tested.

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

        I think to not affect managers decisions in formations etc .. maybe

    • ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wolves locked as new whipping boys

    • JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio on pens. Soucek playing defensive midfield

      1. Captain Vantastic™
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        You seem surprised.

        1. JONALDINHO
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          If I was surprised I would’ve put an exclamation mark.

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

        Sou always a threat

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

        Same position for Soucek as always

    • L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      lol joke of a game

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

        2-3 is a pretty good game

    • Bury94
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone with Johnstone & Meslier?

      1. BenDavies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        look below. luckily didnt bench boost

      2. brianutd-why always we? 20
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Me

      3. yousunkmybattleship
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yes here.

        Cancelled BB at last moment thankfully!

    • TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      BB cancel worked out

    • BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Meslier and Johnstone owners in tatters. That's me btw

      1. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Johnstone could play vs West Ham

        1. yousunkmybattleship
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Still tatters

          1. yousunkmybattleship
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            And unlikely

        2. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          1 pointer

      2. Kellz86
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        So no TC then Ben?

    • Earwicker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No GK this week. Glad I decided not to BB.

      1. BenDavies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        same

        1. Kellz86
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Did you end up on a TC?

    • Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Triple West Ham with Coufal, Soucek and Antonio.

      Burnley will win this 0-1 right?

      1. S.Kuqi
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Wouldn't mind if Wood scores that goal

      2. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Xoyfal Bowen & Antonio vs Wood for me

        1. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Coufal*

    • Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Antonio, Raph, Bamford and Dallas. Come on!!!

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Phew, my players are all starting

    • _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Chris Witty and Patrick Vallance didn't even say a word about the new strain of Covid targeting goalkeepers ffs

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

        Lol

    • Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bamford fear mongerers in tears

    • i_shaan_dixit
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have gone without Salah for this GW and instead punted on Werner and Vardy. Not too confident about the decision cz only once I have been without Salah whole season and he scored 20 that GW.

    • WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Damn I'm so scared of Soucek

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

        you and me both. I could have brought him in for Smith Rowe but it's a transfer I'd want to reverse anyway so figured it wasn't worth the hit.