Boss hoping for winning run after Spurs victory

Last updated : 28 December 2008 By Wba-mad Editor

Albion boss Tony Mowbray saw his side move two points closer to safety after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at The Hawthorns with the Baggies boss hoping for more of the same. The Baggies recorded consecutive home victories for the first time this season with three valuable points moving the Stripes off the bottom of the table - albeit for a short while.

The visitors edged the first-half until left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto was shown a straight red card after seeming to stamp on Gianni Zuiverloon in the 34th minute. After the break it was all Albion with Spurs 'keeper Gomes making a string of saves to deny the Baggies.

However, just as against Manchester City, Roman Bednar arrowed a header into the Birmingham Road net in the 83rd minute to send The Hawthorns in raptures. Scottish striker Craig Beattie then put the icing on the cake four minutes into injury time with his first Premiership goal to secure all points for the Baggies.

"At this moment, we've won two tight home games instead of losing two tight games," Mowbray said at full-time.

"In the second half of the season, we need to make sure we continue to win tight games, particularly the ones at home against the teams that maybe around us, like Middlesbrough, Stoke, Wigan, Bolton, Sunderland and Newcastle.

"With the help of the supporters, we've got to make it an uncomfortable day for the opposition.

"If you've got no belief, you've got no chance.

"The players have never stopped believing we've got the qualities to get enough points to stay in this league.

"When the games I've just mentioned come along, let's hope we're talking about three points and not more hard-luck stories, that we should have taken this chance or this didn't go our way.

He continued: "You need the game to go your way a little bit and maybe it did today.

"We lost 11 games in the Championship last season and we were better than all the teams.

"Sometimes, the opposition's players might be better than yours but it doesn't mean they're going to win the game.

"You've got to go and compete and make life difficult for them.

"Hopefully, things will go your way.

"They did today against maybe better players.

"We're happy to take three points.

"Our fate this season will be sealed by our home form.

"Let's hope the last two home performances are a sign of things to come."