West Bromwich Albion head coach Alan Pardew has admitted he was pleased with a lot of the game but the end against Leicester City was unacceptable.
Welcoming Claude Puel’s side to The Hawthorns, West Brom took the lead through Salomon Rondon and Kasper Schmeichel pulled off a good save to stop us making it two nil on the day and then things turned against us and we were on the end of a four one hammering to further dent the confidence of both players and fans.
Speaking to wba.co.uk as he met with the media following the game Pardew had been hopeful we would build on our early advantage, but he knew their second goal knocked the confidence from the players once again.
‘We got the first goal and would have had a second but for an unbelievable save. Unfortunately for us they then had a moment of massive quality from their two best players.’
Perched at one all going into the half time break, Pardew knew that not regaining the lead after the restart had been our downfall.
‘Then it was tight again and we had periods when we had great chances and perhaps should`ve got that second goal. It wasn`t to be and when their second goal went in which was the most disappointing part of the game. The last 15 minutes of the game were tough for our fans and I`d like to thanks the ones who stayed for sticking with us.’
He ended by saying.
‘I can`t be proud of that last period of the game because we lost our belief. We need to respond better to disappointment, there`s no doubt about that. Today knocked the stuffing out of us for whatever reason and we can`t let that happen.’
Confidence is shot in the group and a lack of a honeymoon period under Pardew probably shows how deep seated and ingrained that is and we are now left eight points adrift at the bottom.
It’s going to take a remarkable ‘Great Escape’ to avoid the drop now and with Stoke to play Manchester City later this evening, whilst it’s unlikely, they could potentially move onto 30 points themselves and that gap would look even more daunting.
Vital West Brom on:
