Darren Moore: I'm not afraid to change West Brom's system

The Baggies have lost the last two games without scoring, dealing their automatic promotion hopes a blow and leaving them seven points behind the top two.

Moore’s rigid 4-3-3 system struggled to break down Sheffield United before it was ripped apart by a rampant Leeds side last Friday.

Albion’s head coach persevered with the system at Elland Road, despite his midfield being overrun, and supporters are growing increasingly frustrated at seeing Dwight Gayle used as a wide forward. But Moore says he is willing to adapt.

“I’m not afraid to change it,” he said. “I’m not afraid to play players in different positions and different shapes in the systems and it is something that this year we’ve always alluded to.

“The players understand that there are going to be games where the shape’s going to change.

“The system’s going to shape where you particularly like playing, you might have to change for the benefit of the team and then understand that.

“That was something that was pointed out very early in pre-season.”

Albion have predominantly played 4-3-3 ever since they switched to the system and subsequently beat Leeds 4-1 at The Hawthorns back in November. But Moore insists they are working on other formations.

“I hope we can keep most teams (second guessing) in terms of the adaptability of the squad and the different shapes and formations we have played this season,” he said. “We work on things like that in training.”

The Baggies were thrashed 4-0 by Leeds last Friday, bringing an end to a impressive run of five straight away wins in the league.

When Moore was asked if the result should signal the end of his current system, he said: “I don’t know yet.

“The most important thing for me is the belief I've got in the group, the understanding with the group. We get back to work.

“We've just taken a bad result. But we move on, it's important we focus on what’s here at West Brom.”