Managers comments on the draw at the Hawthorns

Last updated : 02 November 2006 By
John Gregory

"The spirit has been first class really - it has kept us going. I think we have scored 13 goals in seven games and conceded 12. They did not lack fight.

"They are the best side by a long, long way that I have seen in this division. I think that's my seventh game in charge but I've seen lots of games on the TV.

"You are almost looking at a Premiership side and quite frankly they should get automatic promotion with the team they have got. If they don't then they are selling everyone short. They were tremendous for the first 20-25 minutes.

"I feared the worst. To be perfectly honest I thought they should have killed us off but they didn't and to be fair that's a testament to the group of lads I've got. We are better than we played tonight, we gave away silly possession and gave away poor goals."


Tony Mowbray

"It's disappointing for us all. We dominated from start to finish and threw away two points. It was poor defending - you can't get away from it. If you score three at home you expect to win the game.

"We created plenty of chances which was pleasing but it's probably the first time I can say since I've come that we weren't solid at the back. I have felt very safe at the back over the last three or four weeks but I couldn't say that on this occasion."

"We conceded the goals at very poor times - we conceded one on 47 minutes in the first half and then after the restart," he said.

"Whether we didn't work hard enough to stop them putting balls in or didn't defend the ball better in the box I don't know. That's football. I like to look at the positives, I am very aware of the negatives and I will be looking to address that.

"This game is about scoring goals at one end and keeping them out at the other and we have achieved half of that. We're obviously disappointed - it will be interesting to see what John makes of it. I think they'll be pretty happy to get a point."