Boss searching for positive response after Hull defeat

Last updated : 24 February 2008 By Wba-mad Editor

Despite losing a second home defeat of the season and falling six points behind the automatic promotion places, Tony Mowbray is hoping his team use the gap between his side and both Stoke City and Bristol City as a springboard to return to winning ways.


Just one point from the last three Championship fixtures has seen the Baggies drop six points behind the automatic promotion places with a game in-hand on the top two. However Mowbray is again refusing to push the panic button believing his troops must use the disadvantage to their advantage and respond in the best possible fashion: a win.


"We've got to get back to winning matches very, very quickly," Mowbray insisted.

"It will be interesting to see how the team reacts to not being at the top and keeping those chasing at bay to doing a bit of chasing ourselves.

"Hopefully we'll be good at that because it's a different type of pressure when you're playing catch-up.

"But maybe we can start chasing the teams at the top with a bit of extra adrenalin and force those wins that we need.

"The team is more than capable of putting back-to-back wins together and hopefully that will create an excitement.

"If we can get back into the top two from this position then that should give us the impetus to try and finish the season off well."

Albion face another tricky test on home soil next Saturday as they attempt to close the gap between themselves and Stoke and Bristol with Plymouth traveling north to The Hawthorns. Since the return of Paul Sturrock the Pilgrims have been on a rich vein of form currently sitting just three points behind the Throstles, having played a game more, with the Baggies' chief expecting another tough fixture.

"We have to accept defeat and get on with the next game," Mowbray added.

"There are plenty of games left and there is no problem with our psyche going into the last 13 games.

"We believe we can win enough football matches and let's see if we can.

"I think when it comes towards the end of the season it doesn't matter if you're playing home or away because of the intensity of the games.

"We were away in the FA Cup last week and it didn't seem to affect us, as we won 5-0.

"I think we've got the quality to win games home and away and, if we get the intensity right, then we'll be fine."