Darren Moore impressed with Harvey Barnes as West Brom move up to third

Posted Wednesday, September 19, 2018 by PA

West Brom boss Darren Moore hailed Harvey Barnes after he inspired the Baggies to a 4-2 win over Bristol City.

The Leicester loanee scored once and teed up goals for Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle to help lift the Baggies into third in the Sky Bet Championship.

Rodriguez also scored a penalty while Lloyd Kelly and Famara Diedhiou grabbed second-half consolations for the Robins, who had enough chances to take a point.

Albion rode their luck early on but are now the division’s top scorers with 20 goals with Barnes – on loan from Leicester – impressing after scoring his third goal of the season at The Hawthorns on Tuesday.

Moore said: “He’s a good player. We’re really pleased to have him here. He’s displaying the talent we brought him here for. The West Brom fans can see him for the player he is.

“We saw last season, when he was at Barnsley, a talent there and a perfect fit of what we’re trying to achieve.

“He’s definitely gelling and he’s got a wonderful eye for goal and he presents a threat. I’m hoping he’s enjoying his football and he’ll continue to improve under us.”

Albion struck three times in 12 first-half minutes, starting with Rodriguez’s penalty after Adam Webster brought down Gayle.

Barnes then laid on goals for Gayle and Rodriguez to make it 3-0 before the half hour.

Moore added: “The game was never over. The threat they posed was always evident. They are one of the better teams in the division.”

Kelly and Diedhiou scored either side of Barnes’ fine finish in the second half but the Robins, who dropped to fifth, were left bemoaning early missed chances.

Baggies goalkeeper Sam Johnstone denied Callum O’Dowda, Matty Taylor and Andreas Weimann in the first 10 minutes before Rodriguez’s opener came against the run of play.

Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson said: “I didn’t feel it was a game we deserved to be 3-0 down in but a quality counter attack and some poor defending cost us.

“Not enough went for us, due to us not performing the basics well enough. That’s where we need to improve but we’ve had three clean sheets in four. Is it an off day or the opposition’s quality? It’s difficult to say.”