Diangana nets as Baggies beat Coventry to go fifth

Grady Diangana's first-half strike proved enough to settle a frantic Championship Midlands derby as West Bromwich Albion edged past Coventry City to go fifth in the table.

In front of 24,019, their third best home gate of the season - bettered only by the two games over the festive period - Albion were deserved winners in the latest in their stream of Friday night fixtures.

Their sixth straight home league win - all without conceding a goal - is their best at The Hawthorns in 45 years. But they were taken the distance by a hard-working Coventry side who went closest to equalising through top scorer Viktor Gyokeres when he fired over late on.

With West Brom's new loan signing Marc Albrighton making a lively debut on the right flank, the first half hour was a manic affair in front of a noisy near full house at The Hawthorns. But the Baggies had already carved out the better chances before they went ahead.

Daryl Dike powered a header just over, Wallace fired over after Albrighton's low right-wing cross was blocked - and Wallace and Diangana were then both denied in the same mad scramble.

The hosts then finally went in front on 15 minutes when, from Darnell Furlong's towel-assisted long throw, Wallace flicked on - and Diangana materialised on the line for his first goal of 2023.

Dike was then denied at the start of second half before being replaced just before the hour by top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante. But Albion could not find another way through.

Coventry went close to snatching a point when Gyokeres almost cashed in on a loose pass with his best chance of the night but blazed over from 18 yards. And home keeper David Button, who kept his place from last weekend's FA Cup exit at Bristol City, after a training ground knee injury suffered by first-choice Alex Palmer, only had one save to make.

On the anniversary of Steve Bruce's appointment as Albion boss, following Val Ismael's sacking, when the Baggies were fifth in the Championship, Corberan's side returned to the top five for the first time since.

But Mark Robins' Coventry stay 13th going into the rest of the Championship weekend programme, thanks to their untimely run of just one win in seven league games.

After a sixth successive home league win, Albion's next game is another Friday night local derby against Birmingham City at St Andrew's in a week's time.

Coventry will be back in action the following afternoon with a home game against Luton Town.

Baggies boss Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:

"I am very pleased with that. And I was very pleased for the players as they deserved what they got.

"We lost Alex Palmer, who suffered a knee ligament injury in training. We have had him scanned and he does not need surgery, but he could be out for six weeks.

"David Button came in and did well - and the players showed their respect to him at the end.

"And Marc Albrighton was excellent on his debut. Explosive, aggressive and he really helped the team."

Sky Blues boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"They've got quality players and we knew what were up against. They're a good side, well coached. But we didn't start well - and we've got to stop doing that.

"It was a really disappointing goal. But it was only what they deserved after the start they made - and we made.

"We were better in the second half and could have got back into it. And in the end I'm disappointed.

"But when we did get a few chances, we've not got enough efforts on target. If you're on the front foot mentally, you can put other teams on the back. When we're on it, we can hurt anybody."