Baggies chief Roberto Di Matteo revealed his delight at watching his Albion side return to winning ways in style – but admitted the recent criticism of his side was unnecessary. On the back of two blanks against Swansea and Coventry, Albion went goal crazy against the Hornets with strikes from Jonas Olsson, Graham Dorrans, Luke Moore, plus Gianni Zuiverloon’s and Simon Cox’s first league goals for the club.
Following just one win in the last six games Di Matteo was keen to end Watford’s impressive away record this season giving starts to both Felipe Teixeira and Simon Cox and reverting to a 4-4-2 formation. The changes worked almost immediately with Jonas Olsson heading home a Graham Dorrans free-kick in the fifth minute.
The advantage was doubled 12 minutes later when Luke Moore was brought down in the area with Dorrans slotting home the resulting penalty. Moore himself got his name on the score-sheet four minutes after the break following a fine cross-shot offering Watford ‘keeper Scott Loach no chance. Gianni Zuiverloon opened his league account for the Baggies in the 63rd minute with Simon Cox equalling the defender’s milestone smashing home his first league goal in Albion colours with an unstoppable 25-yard volley five minutes later.
The five-star show ensured the Throstles returned to the top of the league and second in the division’s scoring charts after a recent drought in front of goal.
“We were expecting a very difficult game today because Watford have done well away from home," admitted the Italian.
"They're a young, exciting team but I think we produced a great performance.
"But I'd rather win five games 1-0 than one 5-0 because it's about three points each game.
"We work and try hard but sometimes it doesn't come off.
"It's quite amazing that we've had a few games where we've struggled to score but still created chances.
"We are up there with the highest scoring teams and it's quite amazing we get criticised for not scoring.
"Some of the criticism did upset me because we have a young team.
"I know at the end of the day it's all about results - and we want to get results.
"But people forget we have very important members of our team out.
"Ishmael Miller and James Morrison have not played for us.
"Then you take Roman Bednar and Chris Brunt out, and Jerome Thomas was suspended for a while.
"That's half a team!
"We also should have had a penalty or two that wasn't given.
"Today, again, Luke Moore got booked when for me it was a clear penalty because he got the ball past the goalkeeper."
Despite the resounding nature of the victory Di Matteo took time to hit back at the recent criticism aimed at his team in recent weeks after a tricky spell saw them slip from the Championship’s summit down to fourth before kick-off.
"It's only one game and, as you see by the results every weekend, it's a very tough division," Di Matteo continued.
"It seems like people expect us to be ten points ahead of everyone.
"I can't see any team running away with it.
"I think we've been up at the right end of the table all season so far.
"We've never been fourth from bottom and we just need to stay near the top until we get some players back.
"We'll have a stronger team then.
"I just want to get promoted and I'll be a happy man at the end of the season then."