Steve Bruce highlights improvement West Brom must make ahead of new season

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce wants his side to start taking their chances after they squandered numerous opportunities in a 1-1 pre-season draw with Crewe Alexandra.

Albion could have found themselves three goals up at half-time after John Swift, Daryl Dike and Semi Ajayi all failed to hit the target in a first half that Bruce's men dominated. Summer signing Swift opened the scoring in the early stages of the second half, but Crewe levelled through former Burnley striker Daniel Agyei.

Karlan Grant failed to convert from close range after he was introduced, and Conor Townsend also forced a save from Dave Richards in the home side's goal. Albion have scored six goals in four friendlies so far this summer, but Bruce has urged his players to increase their conversation rate before their 2022/23 season opener at Middlesbrough in a fortnight.

"In the first half I thought we were excellent in the way that we moved the ball. It's a hot day, if anything we became bold with it," Bruce said after the draw.

"It's a friendly, the sun is shining, a team putting 10 players behind the ball, it wasn't much of a spectacle in the second half. I've said many times now, for weeks, it's all for the build up for two weeks today. First half in particular gave me little glimpses.

"The one area that we've got to improve is to score goals. We can't keep thinking we're going to get the chances that we had today, on Wednesday and last Saturday. Our conversation rate has got to be better, we've got to improve in that area and I'm talking about everyone.

"We can't just rely on Grant for example. That's why Swift and Wallace are here. They've combined today but that we've had needed to improve on. Our conversation rate is nowhere near