West Brom debrief: The plan, new challenges and clear boss pride

Carlos Corberan's threadbare backline is at breaking point but the Baggies managed to dig in and become the first side to deny the high-flying Black Cats a home goal this season.

We look at some of the talking points in the latest Albion debrief.

Sticking to a plan

Albion travelled to Sunderland in such a perilous position defensively that a clean sheet would take a superb effort.

For that Corberan acted accordingly. The head coach used a back five, bringing Tom Fellows that bit deeper on the right. The idea was midfielder Ousmane Diakite would add to numbers at the back.

Diakite felt discomfort in the warm-up, such is Albion's luck at the moment. Kyle Bartley came in and did above and beyond ahead of schedule. In the second half Uros Racic did a totally unnatural job at the back.

The plan was to defend for their lives and see what the counter-attack could provide. As it happened counter-attacks provided Albion's two opportunities on goal, one early with Josh Maja and one late with Lewis Dobbin. They were arguably the game's two best openings, despite 17 Sunderland shots to the Baggies' two.

Albion defended manfully. The backline was immense but the whole side was tireless. Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby ran themselves into the ground in midfield.

Corberan made no apologies for the plan. He knew Sunderland deserved to win, but he was also satisfied that his side gave all they had to record a valued point. Only maximum effort and concentration would have yielded that point.

New tests and pushing boundaries

Fellows spent a season at right wing-back with Crawley Town in League Two but he hasn't played there very much in the last 18 months or so. He did it impressively at the Stadium of Light. He was busy defensively and did his work soundly.

Diakite is not a defender but has been trained for emergency scenarios like this of late. He didn't get the chance in the end.

Bartley was ruled to be ready for 20 minutes maximum. Corberan labelled the defender "brave" for pushing the boundaries in playing the first 45.

Then came Racic, the on-loan midfielder, who the head coach revealed had never played centre-back in his life. He played his part in that second half.It was only a point, but it was a night to be heartened by pulling together in adversity.

Deficiencies?

Of course. And some Albion fans watching on from the stadium and television would have hoped and expected their side to show a bit more impetus or desire to attack.

I can understand that desire in a lot of Albion draws so far this season, but I feel this one has to be filed under a point gained given the context of the defence and facing a strong side like Sunderland.

Albion had many opportunities to retain and move the ball better or more positively. If they did so they might have made more than two clear chances, but Sunderland, for more possession and passes, only had one shot on target to Albion's none.

The frustration about a lack of composure and creativity with the ball is justified, but Tuesday night was always going to be about a solid, organised and rigid performance. There can be frustration at other draws, but I don't see it with this one.

Corberan pride

The head coach did not use the word "proud" in his post-match press conference but you could tell he was.

He did so by praising his team's mentality at the Stadium of Light. When asked if he felt Albion were growing stronger through the adversity of a lack of bodies he could not agree more.

The contest came amid a backdrop of Corberan links with Leicester and the Spaniard spoke well throughout his press conference and particularly on that issue, doubling down on his sole focus towards Albion. He added he hoped supporters do not feel disrespected by links to him to other clubs as speculation "out of his control".

Looking at the job on his hands here and things are not easy at the moment. Albion have one win in 11 games, if your glass is half-empty, or are unbeaten in nine - with eight draws - if your glass is half-full.

Either way the head coach knows more wins are required and insisted his full focus is on achieving that. He had take heart and feels progression was made up in Sunderland.