Mowbray's sympathy for Miller

Tony Mowbray has again insisted that Ishmael Miller has got what it takes to succeed in the Premiership after again failing to find the net against Manchester United. The former Manchester City forward had started the season as Albion's lone striker but after injury and the form of Roman Bednar now finds himself amongst the substitutes' bench.

Miller smashed 16-goals last season with Mowbray well aware the young forward is now up against some of the best defenders in the world in the Premiership with his talents still evident in his impressive 37-minute Old Trafford appearance.

"I think it's a bit harsh to suggest he's not the player he was," the Albion chief commented about Miller's doubters.

"I think he is the player he was but we have moved up a level and you have to remember the quality we're up against.

"Of course he could do with a goal but we're now playing in a division where the formation of the team gets adjusted a bit more than it did last season because of the quality of the opposition we're up against.

"There are a lot of factors that have brought our strikers to where they are but for me the overriding factor is that that they are young strikers.

"Roman is 25 but in terms of Premier League experience they are all very young.

"It's an area we have tried to look at and strengthen but it's very difficult because Premier League experience is very expensive and without the guarantee of goals.

"That's a conundrum we've got to try to solve.

"I've still got great faith that we can create chances and the strikers will convert them.

"We have won games and we will continue to win games because our strikers put the ball in the back of the net."