Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
West Brom beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 in pre-season opener at St George's Park. Bielik, Morgan and Mowatt on target as Morrison fields two XIs.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Morrison's side dominated the opening exchanges at the FA's National Football Centre, with 20-year-old Austrian winger Souleyman Mandey twice going close for the Baggies in the early stages. The breakthrough arrived in the 12th minute when centre-half Krystian Bielik — playing his first match minutes since March — peeled away from his marker to head in a Cole Deeming short-corner routine.
Albion doubled their lead before half-time through new recruit Jimmy-Jay Morgan. The forward showcased sharp footwork to beat a defender on the edge of the box before being brought down for a penalty, which he calmly converted down the middle of the goal.
A second-half side featuring nine changes continued the control. Northern Ireland international Jayson Molumby and Isaac Price entered after 60 minutes, and Molumby produced a clever dummy in the box to allow Alex Mowatt to volley home a cross from Alex Williams on the right flank, sealing the 3-0 scoreline.
The turning point
Bielik's 12th-minute header — his first minutes since a March injury — set the tone. The early goal from a set-piece gave Morrison's young side a platform to play without pressure, and the two-goal cushion at the break allowed a complete second-half reshuffle. Sheffield Wednesday never registered a sustained period of pressure.
Key performers
Krystian Bielik — Back from a four-month layoff, the centre-half scored the opener and marshalled the first-half defence alongside Chris Mepham. His physical presence at set-pieces was immediately evident.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan — The new signing won and converted the penalty that made it 2-0, showing composure and footwork in the build-up. A bright debut outing in Albion's new red away kit.
Alex Mowatt — Scored the third on a volley with a composed finish, linking well with Molumby and Williams in the second half.
Cole Deeming — The 19-year-old academy product, back from a loan at Cheltenham, delivered the short-corner assist for Bielik's opener and played 60 minutes — the joint-longest of any Albion player on the day.
By the numbers — interpreted
Official shot and xG data is not published for behind-closed-doors pre-season friendlies, but the pattern of play was clear: West Brom's early control generated two first-half goals from set-piece and penalty scenarios, reflecting a structured game plan. The second-half XI, featuring senior figures like Mowatt and Molumby, maintained territorial dominance. Sheffield Wednesday, fielding their own two separate lineups, created few clear chances across the 90 minutes.
What it means
For West Brom, this is a clean-sheet start to Morrison's first full pre-season as head coach after he steadied the club with a 10-match unbeaten run to secure Championship safety last term. The Baggies now head to Portugal for a training camp, with their next pre-season friendly expected before the Championship campaign begins.
Sheffield Wednesday wrapped up their week-long stint at St George's Park with this run-out. Head coach Henrik Pedersen will have valued minutes across two XIs as the Owls continue preparations for the 2026/27 Championship season.
Verdict
A routine, professional start for Morrison's Albion. The blend of youth (Deeming, Mandey, Whitwell) and experience (Bielik, Mowatt, Mepham) worked as intended. Sheffield Wednesday will have learned more about fitness than form — pre-season scorelines at this stage carry little weight.
Rivalry since 2018
Sheffield Wednesday vs West Brom Head to Head Results· 12
Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom have met 12 times — Sheffield Wednesday won 3, West Brom won 6, with 3 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2018. West Brom leads the head-to-head with 6 victories from 12 meetings. A combined 31 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.58 per match (13 for the home side, 18 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 6 matches (50%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 7 games (58%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 3–2 in 2024.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 15 Jul 2026