Jonas' war cry ahead of Stoke trip

Last updated : 21 November 2008 By Wba-mad Editor

Jonas Olsson says his teammates have nothing to fear on the eve of their trip to the Potteries insisting: "Records are there to be broken" on the same day Tony Mowbray tipped the defender as a future Baggies skipper.

The Baggies have not won at Stoke for 26-years after goals from Cyrille Regis, Peter Eastoe and Ally Brown secured three points back in 1982. Now, after breaking the half-century record against Middlesbrough after scoring the winner, Olsson has set his sights on ending Albion's wretched run of form on Staffordshire soil.

"It was more than 50 years since we'd won at Boro," the 6'4" defender said.

"Records are there to be broken so, yeah, we will try and win.

"The mood is very good.

"Just after the game at the weekend, it always sucks when you lose.

"But once you've analysed it, you put it behind you and get on with the next game.

"We now have a chance to get points on the board.

"If we win one game we could be 13th or 14th.

"All respect to Stoke, but we've had some tough games against Chelsea and Liverpool.

"We know Stoke will be tough but we go there with a feeling that if we perform as we can we'll have a chance of getting all three points."

The £850,000 summer signing has been an almost ever present this season for the Baggies with the former Swedish Under-21 defender catching the eye of his manager and supporters alike with his full-blooded performances.

"Big Jonas came to us for about a million Euros. When I watched him I could see his technical ability and I could see that he was a winner, a leader," Mowbray said.

"He will grow on supporters, if he hasn't already. We talk about leaders and he is a real leader, certainly a potential leader of this team.

"He gets very annoyed and angry after games, kicks holes in walls, wants to punch anything that moves and needs calming and settling down.

"That passion within him we can hopefully guide him into one day being a potential, future captain. We have to channel those qualities but we're happy enough with Olsson."