No complaints from Roy

06 November 2011 18:39
Albion well beaten admits boss

Baggies boss Roy Hodgson had no complaints after watching his Albion side get comprehensively beat 3-0 at Arsenal.

There was no repeat of last season’s Emirates victory after goals from Robin Van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta made it consecutive defeats for the Baggies.

Despite the scoreline Hodgson admits the defeat was not down to a lack of effort from his players.

"Unfortunately, we just have to accept that it wasn't our day today," the former Liverpool and Fulham boss said.

"But I'm not prepared to accept any criticism of the players in terms of them not working hard.

"I thought the shape of the team was quite good and, if we were undone, we were undone by quality.

"We put in one hell of a shift.

"And I thought we had to because we were up against a very good, in-form Arsenal team that were rampant.

"You could accuse us of lacking a bit of quality at times.

"And you could accuse us, in the first half, of looking to play the ball forward too quickly at times.

"But I certainly will not agree with anyone that the players did not put in a shift.

"That would be an accusation bordering on scandalous!"

Hodgson was without the services of both Shane Long and Peter Odemwinigie through injury and gave a first start to the season to Simon Cox and Zoltan Gera his second Albion debut. The boss admits the absence of his first-choice strikers was a miss for the Baggies, but reserved praise for the returning Hungarian.

“There is no doubt that Shane Long and Odemwingie - our first-choice centre-forwards - would have caused Arsenal more problems because they're different types of players,” he added.

“Gera is now fit again so it was a good opportunity to play him.”

Do you have any complaints after the Arsenal defeat? Have your say here at Baggies Banter.

Source: FOOTYMAD