Roberto Di Matteo is hoping his Albion side can return to winning ways against Sheffield Wednesday tonight (KO 19.45) after slipping down to third. The Baggies have now suffered back-to-back away defeats to Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers with the Baggies boss calling for the same response his troops delivered against Derby last time out at The Hawthorns.
Saturday’s defeat saw Nottingham Forest leapfrog the Baggies into second place in the Championship. However Albion can return to the automatic promotion spots with a victory over the 22nd placed Owls tonight.
“We were very disappointed with our last game and we know it is a must-win game for us tonight," the Baggies boss admitted.
"But first of all we need to make sure that we work hard and we match every team for all the basics.
"That means the fighting, the tackling and all that stuff, and hopefully in the long-term our quality will shine.
"Most teams that come here, we know what they do.
"They will be parking ten players behind the ball and trying to be dangerous on the break and from set-pieces.
"Sometimes you have to be patient but you also have to start sharply, start with a degree of tempo, be positive and play your game.
"We have to be strong mentally and physically to get through the last 12 games.
"We have had some ups and I have to say our supporters in our last home game against Derby were magnificent.
"It was one of the best performances by the supporters and I think that helped the team a lot."
Di Matteo has also backed Scott Carson after the ‘keeper’s error for Rangers’ opener on Saturday claiming even the best goalkeepers in the world are prone to errors.
"I am confident Scott will respond well,” he added.
As a goalkeeper you get exposed because if you make a mistake most of the time it's a goal.
"But I think he's saved us many points this season and there are ten other players who could have helped him win the game on Saturday.
"Strikers can miss goals, defenders can make mistakes.
"He's part of our team, part of our squad.
"He is a top professional.
"I remember when Buffon had a bit of a dodgy time and Buffon was one of the best keepers in the world at the time, a few years back now.
"It happens. You can have a bad game and as a keeper you are exposed.
"Scott is not green behind the ears and he just has to react, get over it, put it right and be mentally strong for the next game."
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