Source: FOOTYMAD
Boss slams Baggies' defending
Di Matteo says team must improve Roberto Di Matteo admitted Albion were their own worst enemy after the disappointing 3-1 defeat against Blackburn. The Baggies were behind inside three minutes when Gonzalo Jara went missing and Nikola Kalinic slotted home under Scott Carson from an acute angle. Albion hit back through Jerome Thomas in the 17th minute, but two second half set piece Blackburn goals saw Di Matteo’s men lose three consecutive games for the first time this season. The Italian admitted his side never gave themselves a chance after a combination of sloppy defending and missed chances saw Albion lose their second game over the festive period. "Today was all about bad defending,” he said. "We gave them a head start with the early goal and it's not good if you concede after three minutes, especially at home. "It gives you a big mountain to climb. "We got ourselves back into it and I thought in the second half we could push on. "We had some good chances and maybe should have gone it at half-time with a lead. "But if you keep conceding, it is going to be difficult. "At 2-1, you have hope until the end but to overcome a two-goal cushion is tough. "We conceded those two goals from set-pieces. "We need to be focused for the full 90 minutes because we know otherwise we'll get punished. "I always believe defending is not about one player, it is about the whole team. "But bad decision making from certain individuals costs you goals. "You can work on it and try and practice it. "We have to try and improve and get better very quickly." He added: "One of our players lost their man on the first corner and there was a bit of confusion. "Generally, we haven't conceded many goals from set-pieces this season. "But today we conceded two and we need to be better and pay attention defensively because you get punished very quickly and easily in this league."
