OPINION
Darren Moore must axe Kyle Bartley from the West Brom starting line-up when his side take on Bristol City at The Hawthorns on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old’s performance in the 1-1 draw at Birmingham last Friday was inexcusable and he needs to be dropped from Moore’s first 11, as well as Chris Brunt.
Sam Field must earn his first league start under Moore’s leadership while Gareth Barry, who impressed off the bench at St Andrew’s last week, should come in to replace the out-of-form duo.
Sam Johnstone, who saved a penalty at Birmingham, should remain in goals behind a back-three of Craig Dawson, Ahmed Hegazi and Field.
West Brom struggled to play out of defence in the 1-1 draw with Blues and need to creative abilities of Field to sit on the left-side of the back-three to link better with the midfield.
Bartley, who signed for £4million [Express & Star] from Swansea in the summer, gave away a penalty at St Andrews and was completely incabable of passing the ball forward, so he need to be axed.
Matt Phillips should retain his spot as the right wing-back while Kieran Gibbs, if he is over his illness, must return on the left in the place of Conor Townsend, who did not have the best of games in the West Midlands derby last week either.
Jake Livermore has been putting in some solid performances as of late so should partner Barry in the midfield.
Harvey Barnes has been a revelation this season since joining on loan from Leicester so must remain in the No 10 role that he has impressed in while the lethal duo of Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle should start up front.