Hodgson hails near perfect win

06 March 2011 19:06
Boss says every player deserves credit after Blues win Roy Hodgson claimed an almost perfect show from the Baggies resulted in his first win as Albion head coach. The former Liverpool boss watched from the touchline as goals from Youssouf Mulumbu, James Morrison and Paul Scharner recorded Albion’s only third league away win of the season. But he admits only Jean Beausejour’s equaliser seconds after Albion had taken the lead took some of the shine off the performance. "All of the players were man of the match," said Hodgson – who remains unbeaten as Albion boss. "Our performance was pretty much to the letter apart from conceding so soon after we scored the first, which was a ridiculous blip. "The players worked very hard and it was reasonably comfortable at the end. "Football is about players, not coaches. "It is the players that the fans come to see and it is the players that need to do the job. "Today, I think our players will feel very satisfied that, in a difficult match where important points were at stake, they actually did the job they were given very well from start to finish and got their reward. "You see a lot of that attrition in the first half of games these days because teams are very organised and very disciplined. "Also, the pitches aren't the best at the moment so less chances are taken on short passes. "There are a few more long balls played and ones that get knocked down into midfield. "Of course, the game does open out because players find it very hard to keep that going throughout the 90 minutes. "As the game warms up, the more talented players come to terms with things and get hold of the ball a bit better. "That was certainly the case today. "It is often the goals that change things. "When you go a goal up, the opposition open themselves up a little bit more and, with skill in your team, you can punish them."

Source: FOOTYMAD