Darren Moore has heaped praise on Tyrone Mears after the 35-year-old helped West Brom win 4-1 against Reading at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
Albion were behind at the break but Mears supplied an assist for Dwight Gayle to score an equaliser, before the floodgates opened and the Black Country club breezed to victory.
Sections of Baggies fans criticised Mears for his display as the right-sided wing-back, but Moore has raves about the experienced defender’s work ethic after playing so many games lately.
“Tyrone came in and played three games in seven days, when he came in he wasn’t fit so that shows great testament to him. It was his cross Gayle scored from so great credit to him. I’ve said it to him in front of the group and I’ll say it to you too,” said Moore, as quoted by Express & Star journalist Matt Wilson via his personal Twitter account on Saturday.
Moore on Mears: "Tyrone came in and played three games in seven days, when he came in he wasn't fit so that shows great testament to him. It was his cross Gayle scored from so great credit to him. I've said it to him in front of the group and I'll say it to you too." #wba
— Matt Wilson (@mattianwilson) October 6, 2018
OPINION
Albion fans can go too far sometimes when they criticise players. It is fine on Twitter or after the game, but sarcastically cheering Moore’s decision to take Mears off is inexcusable. Is he really in the wrong? The right-back has been offered the chance to play for a promotion-chasing Championship side and while he is not doing amazingly well, he is simply filling in while Matt Phillips is injured and as soon as the Scotland international is back to fitness, Mears will be out. While it is obvious that Mears is not up the scratch right now, Moore should really consider a change or formation when Phillips is injured because no one else can play as a wing-back. People mention Oli Burke and Bakary Sako, but neither have the defensive work-rate of Phillips and Mears, and the last thing Albion want is more defensive issues considering they cannot buy a clean sheet right now.