No complaints from Roy

17 April 2011 20:24
Hodgson philosophical after unbeaten streak ends Roy Hodgson admitted the beater team won at The Hawthorns yesterday as Chelsea ended his unbeaten start to his career as Albion head coach. Peter Odemwingie continued his hot streak in front of goal when he opened the scoring in the 17th minute. But defensive frailties came back to haunt the Baggies when Scott Carson and Nicky Shorey both failed to clear with Didier Drogba taking advantage to equalise five minutes later. Chelsea were in the lead minutes later when Scott Carson could only parry into the path of Solomon Kalou. Frank Lampard then scored a third before half time to secure the points for the visitors. "We've had plenty of good times so far," the Baggies chief. "Now we have to learn how to lose. "It's been a wonderful spell and when you've had a good spell with good results, you forget what losing is like. "Today, we've had to come to terms with it again. "I don't think we can have any complaints about the fact we lost because Chelsea were clearly better than us. "But we can be unhappy that some of the determination, desire and athleticism we showed in the second half was missing for long periods in the first half. "As a result, we gave ourselves a mountain to climb by going in 3-1 down, especially conceding the last goal in the 45th minute. "When you're playing Chelsea, you know they're one of the tightest teams in the league and one of the hardest teams to score against. "So facing a second half when they are already two goals better than you, you're staring down the barrel of a gun." Hodgson refused to be hard on his troops after the defeat despite being disappointed with the first half goals Albion conceded. "We scored a good goal but then, unfortunately, made a couple of mistakes," Roy continued. "The first two goals we conceded were cheap by our standards. "I know that all goals are bad goals to concede. "You don't get that much more satisfaction from conceding a wonder goal or a cheap goal - it's a goal conceded. "But, of course, it was a bit saddening because in recent weeks we have done very well in that respect and been pardoned that type of goal. "Today, we weren't pardoned. "Having said all that, although there were lapses, we don't play Chelsea every week. "We responded well in the second half and I'm sure there is enough character and quality in this team to get us over the finishing line in our final five games. "The good thing is, we've also got goals in us."

Source: FOOTYMAD