Substituting off your top scorer is never an easy call but Corberan had to be cut-throat at half time of the Baggies’ vital victory over Midlands rivals Coventry on Wednesday night.

Josh Maja started his 20th successive Championship game under the lights at The Hawthorns but the striker looked leggy throughout the first period, just as he did against Sheffield United on Sunday. Corberan decided it was best to replace Maja with John Swift for the second 45, moving Swift just in behind Karlan Grant.

It was a tactical tweak that proved pivotal as Swift, who has impressed Corberan in training of late, upped the ante for West Brom. Albion’s attacks had more vigour and purpose with the 29-year-old on the field and his presence meant Grant had the freedom to move into either channel.

The second goal came from Grant’s roaming role as the striker picked up the ball from Torbjorn Heggem, took on three defenders and slotted into the far bottom corner from 20 yards. Coventry had just missed three big opportunities down the other end, so Grant’s goal was vital to the win.

Corberan was delighted with the result, especially as his team conceded far more clear-cut chances than usual but got away with it. The Spanish head coach admitted in the post-match press conference his call to replace Maja had to be done to maintain the striker’s physical condition, all while providing a better balance.

When asked if Maja was tired, Corberan said: “I think so, the players who play regularly in a row, some players suffer more, some suffer less. With Maja, I decided not to put him out of the team in any single game. He’s been starting every game.

“It’s true that I arrived before the game with the option to put Swift because he’s training very well as a number 10. I was thinking to put from the beginning Maja on the bench and start with Grant and Swift as a number 10 – or to start with Grant and Maja to see where he was.

“But in general, for his energy and the type of game we were playing, it was important to have Swift in the pitch because it helped the team progress on the pitch and be robust in defence.”

Supporters were thrilled to see West Brom win at The Hawthorns for the first time since the 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle on September 21, so Corberan will rightfully get his dues for his tactics. The reaction may not have been so positive had Albion failed to beat Coventry, however, and Corberan is well aware of that fact.

“After football, you know how football is, if we don’t win today you can be thinking I take out my striker and how are we going to win the game, no? But the changes we do are to win the game,” he said.

“If we lost today the control of the game in the second half and lost the possibility to sustain attacks, they have enough quality in the final third of the pitch to complicate the result. For me it was necessary to have control of the ball to have control of the result,” Corberan concluded.