Steve Clarke admits it was a game of two halves yesterday as Albion drew 1-1 with Newcastle United.
Newcastle were fast out of the blocks after their 3-0 defeat last week against nearest rivals Sunderland. Yoan Gouffran scored after just eight minutes when he nodded past the on rushing Ben Foster.
But the Geordies were unable to build on their fast start and Albion came out a different side after the break. Billy Jones levelled the scores with his first goal for the club just after the hour mark.
The result, Clarke believes, was fair after Newcastle’s dominance in the first half was replicated by the Baggies after the break.
“I asked for a little bit of aggression, momentum and rhythm for the second half,” said Clarke.
“I did speak before the game that I was a little bit concerned we’d only played two games in 34 days.
“When you play game after game you do find a little rhythm and you get momentum, and players feel good about themselves.
“The boys work hard in training every day but training does not replicate games because you never get that intensity.
“I was concerned leading into the game and the first half showed my concerns were probably justified.
“Newcastle picked up the game much quicker than we did and were better than us in the first half.
“On another day they could have got the second goal, which would have made it much more difficult for us.
“But they didn’t and that gave us the avenue back into the game, which we grabbed with both hands, because in the second half we were much, much better.
“We had much more aggression about us and more positivity.
“On another day we could maybe have nicked all three points.
“But I think a point was a fair result.”
Was a draw a fair result? Have your say here at Baggies Banter.