Slaven Bilic urging West Brom to be better with the ball
Slaven Bilic has urged Albion to be more careful with the ball as they look to put Middlesbrough to the sword after successive 1-1 draws.
The Baggies are 14 unbeaten – their longest run since 1901/02 – and remain top of the Championship, but they were not at their best as Barnsley grabbed a late equaliser on Boxing Day.
And when asked what he wants to see at The Hawthorns tomorrow after having to settle for a point at Oakwell – on the back of a stalemate against Brentford at home – Bilic said: “Not to give the ball away so many times.
“We could blame the pitch a little bit, it’s difficult.
“Everything is difficult (at Barnsley), to be fair. It’s a bit hostile – not in a negative way – and it’s not easy to play there.
“But we need a bit more. They (Barnsley) pressed us, but everybody is pressing.
“We are normally glad the opponent is pressing us, because it leaves them open when you want them to be open.
“That is something we have to get back in the next game.”
A big plus for Albion was that despite the draw, second-placed Leeds were unable to close the gap as they also drew 1-1 – against Preston.
Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone – who put in a superb display against the Tykes, making a series of saves before Aapo Halme cancelled out Filip Krovinovic’s strike – said ahead of facing Boro: “When anyone plays against West Brom, they always give an extra 10 or 20 per cent.
“We are always facing that – every week it is now.
“It has been a busy schedule, but that’s no excuse. We should have been better (against Barnsley), we should be beating these teams.
“We didn’t, but on the other hand, we didn’t lose. You have to try to look at it in a positive way, but we’re all frustrated we didn’t come away with three points.”
Albion could be without Kieran Gibbs after he limped off towards the end at Oakwell.
Nathan Ferguson also missed that game with a knock picked up against Brentford, so Conor Townsend may start at left-back.
Grady Diangana (back) and Kyle Bartley (ankle) are both edging closer to fitness, but it is thought this clash with Boro will come too soon.
Krovinovic is hoping for another start after opening his Baggies account.
Johnstone added: “The games come thick and fast in this league, but around Christmas it is crazy.
“We go again, and we have to pick ourselves up.
“It will be another tough game for us, so we have to forget about (Barnsley), and we have to look forward.”
