Mixed reactions for Mowbray after Colchester victory

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray expressed both delight and disappointment after Albion twice came from behind to secure three vital points against Colchester United. Despite dominating the opening stages of the game, the home side again found themselves a goal down after once more failing to deal with a set-piece with defender Chris Coyne scoring from close range past a static Dean Kiely.

Albion found themselves further behind three minutes later after Dean Kiely's poor punch landed at the feet of Medy Elito with the winger lashing home a powerful volley. Not to be undone the Baggies searched for a way back into the game with Kevin Phillips scoring his 22^nd goal of the season in the 36^th minute to give Albion hope. Just three minutes later Chris Brunt's 20-yard strike found its way into the right-hand corner of Gerkin's net to equal the scores going into the break.

The second-half saw Albion dominate as a number of missed chances proved costly when Albion's Achilles heel once again came back to haunt them when a corner caused havoc in the home side's box and former Charlton striker Kevin Lisbie put the visitors ahead for the second time.

However James Morrison's equaliser on the stroke of full-time gave the Baggies a much needed lifeline with his shot from the edge of the area sneaking in at the near post. The added four minutes by referee Graham Laws proved crucial as Chris Brunt whipped in a trademark cross three minutes into time-added-on with Roman Bednar glancing in a dramatic winner.

"My emotion is disappointment even though we won the game," Mowbray said.

"The way we are defending is a huge disappointment because I know we can't be successful and achieve what we want to if we keep defending like that.

"There is a lot of work to be done on the training ground, which we've been saying all season.

"Is it going to be our Achilles heel come the end of the season?

"I would suggest, if we don't find the improvement, it might well be.

"That's the frustration and disappointment for me.

"We know we can score goals.

"We scored four today, which is fantastic and a positive.

"But there were far too many negatives for me to sit here and say 'well done, great!'

"Going forward, this team will create problems for anyone and make it difficult for teams to defend.

"Our problem is when people put the ball in our box.

"That's what's hurting us at the moment.

"On the positive side, it's great that we stuck together and kept at it.

"I'm delighted for the players that they got the points.

"I'm also disappointed for the supporters who left the building before the late goals went in."

The victory lifted the Baggies into fourth place with two games in hand on leaders Bristol City and second place Stoke, however Albion's shaky defence still worries Mowbray.

"We're a team that can react pretty well to adversity," Mowbray continued.

"But Colchester nearly made it 4-4 with a shot that looked like going in until it hit someone.

"That is just our team!

"I've moved people around and changed formations all season, yet the goals still keep going in.

"It gets to a point where ultimately, if this group of players can't keep the ball out of the back of the net, I'll have to get some in who can.

"That will be a shame for the players because they work so hard to win football matches.

"Ultimately, we've got to stop goals going in our net.

"It's not like teams are cutting us open.

"They just lump it in our box, someone heads it and someone sticks it in.

"We need someone to get first contact and head it out of our box, which will make us a much better football team.

"Everyone is back defending and we're still conceding so it's not like we're being over-cavalier.

"It's not like our wide players are bombing in the box, that there is no-one in midfield and teams are breaking away.

"In the last five minutes of games, that has happened once or twice because of the way I tend to set my team up when we need to score a goal.

"I tend to gamble and stretch the pitch when we need to score.

"In that instance, we encourage teams to attack us so we can break away and try and score a goal.

"In trying to get an equaliser against Leicester, we conceded two more goals.

"We could have lost 4-2 today - but the gamble paid off and we won.

"Generally, apart from the last few minutes of football matches, I don't think teams hurt us with the ball, except from free-kicks and corners."