Gary Neville told Sky Sports during their live coverage of West Brom’s draw against Manchester United on Sunday that Arsenal loanee Maitland-Niles had a moment to forget during the game.
With less than 20 minutes left on the clock, Arsenal’s academy product had an ample chance to put West Brom ahead when in a two-on-one situation, only for Maitland-Niles ‘to make a mess’ of the situation, according to Neville.
Maitland-Niles was put through on the left-hand side, and had his ball across fell into Diagne’s path, then his teammate would have had a point-blank-range chance to score.
But the Arsenal loanee’s cross went beyond the West Brom striker, and once again, Sam Allardyce’s men failed to win, as Neville shared his thoughts on the big opportunity missed.
“It won’t go down as a chance in the stats, but it’s a big, big chance,” said Neville. “As it got played wide to Maitland-Niles, you are thinking Maguire cannot really go across, but he does.
“I think he makes up Maitland-Niles’ for him and it because an easier pass into Diagne and he makes a mess of it.
“He goes with the outside of his right foot. It’s just that lack of composure. That final pass, which makes the difference. The hand goes on the head (from Allardyce). He knows what a chance that was.”
Maitland-Niles was brought in by West Brom to be ruthless in those situations, but it wasn’t meant to be for the versatile defender.
But the problem West Brom face is that yesterday’s point would usually be a point gained, but not in their current situation.
The Baggies are 12 points behind 17th-placed Newcastle, who have played a game extra, as they are seemingly heading back to the Championship.
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