West Bromwich eased into the next round of the League Cup with a 4-1 victory over Rotheram United at the second stage, the Round of 128, on Friday evening. The visitors controlled the tempo from the opening whistle and never looked threatened after taking the lead.
Harry Whitwell broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, a neat finish that settled the early nerves. To be fair, Rotheram stayed compact and kept West Bromwich at arm's length for the first quarter, but the balance shifted as soon as the half ended. The visitors came out with purpose and Ousmane Diakité's influence was felt immediately.
Frederik Myhre doubled the advantage in the 55th minute, capitalising on a moment of hesitation in the Rotheram defence. By then the hosts had grown frustrated, throwing bodies forward without structure. Jamie Morgan restored the two-goal cushion in the 61st minute, and the game was effectively over.
Flavio Tavares added a fourth in the 87th minute, a clinical strike that capped a dominant display. Rotheram managed a consolation of their own, but it came too late to change the narrative. The visitors held on grimly after taking the lead and saw out the remaining minutes without incident.
West Bromwich's statistics tell the story of a team that dominated every facet of play. They held 72 per cent possession and registered 10 shots on target compared to Rotheram's two. Expected goals sat at 2.83 for the visitors against 0.89 for the hosts, and the result reflected that gulf.
The away side advanced with their confidence intact, while Rotheram face questions about their ability to compete at this level. The scoreline was comfortable, but the performance suggested the gap is wider than anyone hoped.