CHRIS Brunt praised his team-mates for beating the fatigue to fightback in last night's 1-1 draw at Ipswich to earn what he believes could be a vital point.

The Baggies kept their nerve after following behind to a harsh 68th-minute penalty against Jonas Olsson for a challenge on Damien Delaney in their third game in eight days.

And Brunt kept his cool to prod home the leveller three minutes into stoppage time with his first goal in two months.

"We have spoken about it in the dressing room and we've said it could be an important point at the end of the season," he said.

"I was pretty fortunate because it took a couple of ricochets and just rolled to me in front of goal so I would have been disappointed if I had missed from there.

"But credit to the lads for grinding out a point.

"We kept going right to the very end.

"We had to count on Scotty a couple of times when we were pushing forward but I think we deserved at least a point out of the game.

"For the majority of the game we had the better chances and more possession.

"It was a tough game, especially at the end when it was end-to-end and we were trying to get something out of the game.

"There were tired legs after two pretty zapping games against Newcastle away and then at home.

"It took its toll on the boys but the point shows the spirit we've got in the squad and hopefully that will count for a lot at the end of the season.

"It's not an ideal result but given the circumstances it might be a good point by the end of the season."

On the penalty incident for what was deemed a shirt-pull the Northern Ireland midfielder added: "It was a soft penalty to be given.

"If you gave penalties for that you would be seeing five or ten penalties a game.

"But that is one of those things so credit to the boys for grinding on and getting a point.

"But it does feel a little bit like a defeat because of the way the penalty was given."

The former Sheffield Wednesday ace's strike took his season's tally to seven.

And he is hoping it is the start of a scoring streak as he prepares for Saturday's home clash with Sheffield United (ko 3pm).

"It's been a couple of months without a goal," he said.

"I think my last one was against Sheffield Wednesday.

"I was delighted to score and hopefully it will be an important point, and hopefully that will get me back on the goal trail for a few weeks.

"We've got a lot of games coming up so it's important that we put this one to bed as soon as possible.

"We have to take the positives from it and we've got a big game at home on Saturday.

"Sheffield United are flying at home at the moment so it's going to be another tough game.

"Everyone can see the potential they've got.

"They're a big club and not so long ago they were playing in the Premier League.

"They've still got good players and we knew at the start of the season that it was only a matter of time before they came good.

"They are showing that at the minute so we will have to be on our guard at The Hawthorns.

"We haven't been playing overly well at The Hawthorns over the last few weeks so hopefully we can get that monkey off our back and go and have a good performance, and more importantly get three points on Saturday."

PIC: HEAD BANGER...Goal hero Brunt in the wars against Ipswich