Carlos Corberán Points Finger After ‘Regretful’ West Brom Draw at Oxford United
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberán expressed his frustration following a “regretful” 1-1 draw against Oxford United in the third round of the EFL Trophy. The Baggies, who came into the game as favorites, struggled to assert dominance against their lower-league opponents and had to settle for a point after a series of missed opportunities and defensive lapses.
Corberán did not hold back in his post-match comments, pointing to several areas where he felt his side had let themselves down. While praising Oxford for their resilience and tactical discipline, he was critical of his own team’s failure to capitalize on their chances and maintain control of the match.
The game saw West Brom create a number of scoring chances, but they were unable to convert those opportunities into goals. Corberán admitted that his side lacked a clinical edge in the final third, which allowed Oxford to remain in contention throughout the match.
“It’s a game we should have put to bed early on,” Corberán lamented. “We created enough chances to secure the win, but we didn’t take them. In football, if you don’t score when you have the chance, you leave yourself vulnerable—and that’s exactly what happened tonight.”
Oxford United’s equalizer came late in the second half, much to the dismay of the West Brom boss, who felt his side’s defensive organization fell apart at a critical moment. The late lapse saw Oxford exploit a rare gap in the Baggies’ backline to earn a valuable point.
Corberán pointed to his team’s inability to stay composed defensively as a major factor in the disappointing result. “We were not sharp enough defensively in the key moments. The way we conceded the equalizer was poor and unacceptable for a team of our level,” he said.
While West Brom generally controlled possession and dictated the tempo of the game, they struggled to break down Oxford’s deep defensive block. The lack of urgency in transitioning back into defensive positions was particularly concerning for Corberán, who had been working with his team to iron out such issues in training.
With West Brom chasing promotion from the Championship, Corberán knows that such performances cannot be repeated in the league. He suggested that some players could face the consequences of their performances, hinting that changes could be made to the lineup in the coming matches.
“This result is a wake-up call. We need to be much better than this, especially as we aim to compete at a higher level. I take responsibility for the result, but the players also have to reflect on their own performances,” the manager added.
Corberán also expressed regret at not being able to field a more consistent lineup due to injuries and squad rotation, but he stressed that every player wearing the West Brom shirt must be able to deliver when called upon. “We have to be adaptable and able to perform regardless of circumstances. This was a missed opportunity.”
Despite the setback, Corberán remains confident that his team can learn from the draw and push forward in the league campaign. With key fixtures on the horizon, including a crucial Championship match next week, the West Brom manager is determined to get his side back on track.
“We have to move on quickly. There’s a lot of football ahead, and our focus is now on improving and getting results in the league,” Corberán concluded.
West Brom will now turn their attention back to their Championship promotion bid, with fans hoping the team can bounce back from this disappointing result and demonstrate the consistency needed to secure a place in the Premier League next season.
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