A key component to West Brom’s success on Saturday night was the return to form of Matheus Pereira. The newly adopted 3-5-2 formation bore fruit for the first time against Sheffield United, and Pereira was an important figure. He got Albion moving quickly through the lines and the range of his passing ability was on show for all to see and enjoy; one over-the-top pass into the path of Karlan Grant was delightful, the epitome of precision. This was perhaps the Brazilian’s best display at this level to date, because there was substance to back up his style; he created more chances across 90 minutes than any player in any top flight match so far this term. Pereira was a joy to watch from the stands and, clearly, from Bilic’s vantage point on the touch-line.
Slaven Bilic said “I don’t need the stats to know against Sheffield United he was amazing, He is always skilful. But he was doing that against Sheffield United at top pace. He was dribbling the ball and it was hurting the opposition. He was doing it not in a statistical way but in a progressive way. That is why he was getting into positions to play key balls and that is the reason why he was the Matheus I want to be and that I know he can be in every game. His performance was a big boost for us.”
