This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
West Brom defender Nathan Ferguson has come in for severe criticism this weekend after a rather shocking performance culminated in the 19-year-old being sent off.
Following the Baggies’ 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic, Joseph Masi of the Express & Star handed the youngster a 4/10 while giving his showing a damning review.
What’s he said?
Albion remain top of the Championship despite drawing a second game in the space of just a week as Josh Cullen’s spot-kick in injury time clinched a point for the visitors.
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The referee deemed that Semi Ajayi made enough contact to bring Naby Sarr down inside the area in the 94th minute much to the anger of Slaven Bilic and the whole of the Hawthorns.
Earlier in the match, the official did himself no favours by wrongly attempting to send off Grady Diangana for Ferguson’s rash challenge.
Masi of the Express & Star gave his thoughts on the academy graduate’s performance, he said:
“The teenager has enjoyed an outstanding start to the season. But he was way off his best here.
“After Ben Purrington whipped in a cross, he fell asleep allowing Chris Solly to volley over.
“Ferguson was also turned by Gallagher in the build-up to Johnstone’s double save.
“Deservedly given his marching orders for what was a poor challenge on Solly. 4”
Must do better
Ferguson was handed a harsh lesson on Saturday afternoon, but it is one he probably needed at this stage of his career.
Everything up until this point had been rather rosy, he had won two Man of the Match awards in front of the Sky Sports cameras and displayed his versatile ability to an outstanding level by playing at both right-back and left-back.
His performances have been so good this campaign that he’s been linked with moves to some European heavyweights like Atletico Madrid and Juventus, while Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are two other teams rumoured.
Maybe it is a case of it all coming too quickly for the England U20 international as since these rumours have surfaced, he’s put in two successive performances that have been some way off his usual level as seen by WhoScored rating him no higher than 5.80.
