Northampton vs West Brom 13.07.22

West Brom prove to much for Northampton as the hosts tire towards the end

On a warm July evening Steve Bruce’s West Bromwich Albion traveled to Northampton town for a pre season friendly that enabled players to gain fitness before the season starts.

West Brom came close within 3 minutes when Callum Robinson was sent through on goal only for Jonny Maxted to come out and claim the ball first.

The game started at a slow pace being marred by stoppages for injuries.

Another chance went begging when a loose pass found Daryl Dike who had a shot palmed clear by Maxted.

Northampton’s 1st chance came in the 19th minute when Mitch Pinnock took a shot that was bravely blocked with a last ditch tackle.

The Baggies had another chance to take the lead when Dike got onto a cross only to get the angle wrong and hit over.

The Cobblers could have took the lead in the 24th minute only for Pinnock’s shot to find the man on the line who comfortably headed away.

Overall the first half was played at a somber pace to enable both teams to get back into the groove of playing after the summer break.

The lead was taken in the 50th minute when the ball was passed to Dike who slotted the ball beyond Maxted to give West Brom a 1-0 lead.

The Baggies almost immediately doubled there lead when the ball was centred to Adam Reach who ballooned the ball over the bar.

West Brom came close when Jed Wallace hit a thunderbolt of a shot that was again palmed clear by Maxted.

The lead was eventually doubled in the 71st minute when Grady Diangana played a delightful ball to substitute Karlan grant who calmly stroked the ball past the goalkeeper to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The Cobblers almost got themselves back into the game only for Kieron Bowie to hit his shot miles over the bar.

Dike almost had his second of the game only for Maxted to get a strong palm onto the ball to clear it.

The 3rd did come when diangana’s shot on the angle clattered the post allowing championship veteran Reach to prod the loose ball home.

Matt Phillips almost put the cherry on top only for him to curl his shot over making the final score 3-0 West Brom.