West Brom player ratings v Chesterfield: Thomas-Asante saves dismal Albion

West Brom report and ratings from the Technique Stadium as the Baggies look to an FA Cup 3rd round replay

Brandon Thomas-Asante ensured that West Bromwich Albion averted danger with a last gasp equaliser at non-league Chesterfield in a corker of an FA Cup tie. Much changed Albion struggled to cope for large periods with their energetic and courageous hosts, who fought back from two goals down to take the lead, with the score 3-2 at half time.

Thomas-Asante had opened the scoring after two minutes, but Tyrone Williams replied immediately. Karlan Grant popped up with the Baggies' second, but Armando Dobra's brace before the break meant that the Spireites lead at the interval - and until stoppage time, when Thomas-Asante saved the day.

Fears of a cup upset were initially downplayed within two minutes of kick off. Grant collected the ball on the left and slipped past his man before he pulled the ball back into the path of Thomas-Asante, whose finish with his left foot was emphatic and left keeper Ross Fitzsimons with zero opportunity of repelling him.

Perhaps they thought it'd be a dander. Perhaps there was a resting on laurels. Chesterfield certainly didn't let heads drop, nor were they deterred by the three-league gap between the two sides. They replied within five minutes when a short corner was worked onto the edge of the area and, when the ball came back from the far side, former Solihull Moors defender Williams bundled the ball home.

Albion never looked all too comfortable, but despite that they edged back in front again just after a quarter of an hour when Adam Reach slipped Grant in with a delightful through ball and last season's top scorer did the rest. Again, maybe Albion thought at that stage that they had dampened Spireite spirits, but back came their non-league hosts.

Dobra, who Albion just couldn't get to grips with, was given the freedom of the penalty area and he duly turned the ball home from the penalty spot to draw Chesterfield level again, before they went one better and the same player finished impressively on the follow up after David Button had palmed away Joe Quigley's initial effort - he had been played onside by Semi Ajayi.

Anybody who had hopes that Albion's superior fitness levels and class might tell in the second half were to be terribly mistaken - certainly until the death. Albion plodded through the game, even after Corberan made changes and introduced first-choice personnel.

Daryl Dike headed over and forced a low save from Ross Fitzsimons, as did Thomas-Asante, before the latter ensured that Albion avoided significant embarrassment when he popped up deep into stoppage time to loop a header into the top corner of the net from Taylor Gardner-Hickman's centre.

Albion will welcome the Spireites to The Hawthorns before the month is out for a replay that the Baggies really could've done without - but one that ultimately they'll be grateful for.

West Brom player ratings

Button 4

A chance for Button to force the issue for the number one spot in the Championship, but bar one excellent low reflex save the first half - not helped at all by his defence - was pretty catastrophic. Nervy in the second half when miscontrolling the ball.

Gardner-Hickman 5

By no means is TGH's favourite position at right-back, but he was given the runaround by Dobra in the first half and too often Chesterfield found joy down that side. Some of his deliveries from the right, considering his usual ability, weren't of the required standard but he popped up with a key assist at the end.

Kelly 3

Loose in possession and invited pressure down Albion's right when Quigley found himself in on goal. Cool under pressure when on the ball otherwise, although positioning for goals was poor and a lack of obvious chemistry with Ajayi in a makeshift defence made things awkward.

Ajayi 3

Signs of rustiness were to be expected after such a long layoff. Not on the same wavelength when it came to the defensive line, and Ajayi was otherwise erratic with his passing and clearing. Important minutes nevertheless as he seeks Championship action.

Ashworth 5

Under pressure at left-back as Chesterfield looked to play up to the crackling cup atmosphere. Dealt relatively well with those moments. Pinged a shot wide after Grant's effort had initially been blocked. Perhaps unfortunate to be hooked at the break.

Livermore 3

Didn't provide the adequate cover in front of the Albion defence, of which its frailties were exposed all too often in the first half. Passing was largely fine, but on this evidence it was clear that he hasn't been playing all too often recently.

Reach 4

Created Grant's goal with a terrific through ball, but Reach - another player not playing in his usual position - didn't track his runner closely enough in the build up to Chesterfield's second goal. Moved to left-back at half time.

Diangana 3

Very hesitant on the right, never looked like imposing himself on the game, and any potential threat Diangana did carry was snuffed out by the revved up Clements. Final ball from Diangana - albeit on the weaker side of the pitch for him - was lacking.

Rogic 3

Poor showing from Rogic, who has blown hot and cold in an Albion shirt up to now. You wanted him to dominate the ball in midfield, but he often wanted too much time on the ball and he left the field having made barely any impact.

Grant 5

Odd return to action for Grant, whose numbers will impress - one goal and one assist inside the first 17 minutes most certainly cannot be sniffed at - and yet Grant had very little other obvious impression on the game and was erratic at times with his passing.

Thomas-Asante 7*

Emphatic early finish from BTA, whose afternoon was book-ended with goals. Didn't have much of a sniff beyond that as Chesterfield battled and gave as good as they got - until the very end, when he expertly flicked home the equaliser.

Substitutes

Molumby (for Ashworth HT) 5

Brought a little more bite into the midfield but Molumby - who enjoyed a wonderful Christmas period - encountered a determined and battling bunch.

Dike (for Rogic 56) 5

Joined BTA and Grant in attack but as a three it didn't function as effectively as Corberan would've liked. He stung the palms of Fitzsimons and flicked a header over from a Wallace cross.

O'Shea (for Kelly 56) 5

Brought about a little more authority at the back for Albion and made one or two crunching challenges on fearless Chesterfield players who continued to come on strong even in the later stages. Summed up Albion's day when passing straight out of play at the end.

Wallace (for Diangana 64) 6

One cross was met by Dike, but generally the quality of his delivery wasn't up to his usual standards.

Yokuslu (for Livermore 72)

Substitutes not used: Palmer, Townsend, Phillips, Swift

Chesterfield: Fitzsimons; Akinola (Asante 87), Grimes, Mandeville, Williams, Dobra (Uchegbulam 87), King, Oldaker (Banks 71), Quigley (Tshimanga 77), Clements (Horton 71), Jones

Substitutes not used: Covolan, Clarke, Sheckleford, Palmer

GOALS

Chesterfield - Williams 7, Dobra 36, 41; Albion - Thomas-Asante 2, 90+4, Grant 17

The ref: Rebecca Welch

Attendance: 9,819 (1,992 away)

Up next: Luton Town (A) - Saturday 14 January, 3pm kick off