Mowbray wary of Hammers' threat

Last updated : 12 September 2008 By Wba-mad Editor

Albion boss Tony Mowbray has warned his defenders to be top of their game tomorrow when a dangerous West Ham outfit visit The Hawthorns. Sitting comfortably fifth in the league the Hammers have a forward line to be admired with the much converted Dean Ashton and Welsh menace, Craig Bellamy, a threat to any team on their day.


Mowbray may have to call on squad members against West Ham with Gianni Zuiverloon suffering a hamstring injury during international duty and Abdoulaye Meite only returning to training after the calf strain he picked up at The Reebok Stadium. Whoever the Baggies boss decides to pick he's warned his men of the Iron's offensive threat.

"When they play they have got some very good players, particularly at the cutting edge of their team in Craig Bellamy, Dean Ashton, Carlton Cole and young Mark Noble," Mowbray said.

"They've got people who can score goals.

"Hopefully it will be an interesting and exciting game and one where there will be a few goals."

Although respecting West Ham's team, Mowbray is more concerned with the Baggies getting their a Premiership victory under their belts after earning their first point of the season at The Reebok Stadium.

"The longer you don't win a game it does become a problem because journalists write about it, the players read it and psychologically it starts to get inside their head," Mowbray admitted.

"The sooner we get a win the sooner people will stop writing about it and the sooner we put four goals past someone the sooner people will stop writing we can't score goals.

"We've just got to keep going and try to enjoy the league.

"The longer we go without a win the more it becomes an issue because every week I get asked the same question.

"If the performance-level stays as high as it has been, we will win games.

"Let's wait and see."

He added: "I'm not frustrated about it.

"If we weren't creating chances I'd be a bit concerned - but we are.

"We've created enough chances in the Premier League to win games.

"I sat and watched Villa and Liverpool and on the evidence of that game they could still be playing now and not have scored!

"Let's talk about all this after a dozen matches."