BEN Watson celebrated his first Albion goal in Saturday's 3-2 win over Preston by hinting at wanting to extend his Hawthorns stay beyond the summer.

The on-loan Wigan midfielder has lived something of a nomadic existence this term having also had a spell at QPR before the turn of the year.

But he is feeling at home with the Baggies after moving to the Black Country last month - and insists he is enjoying his football again.

"It was very nice to score," said Watson.

"It's always nice to get your first goal for a new club and I was very pleased.

"It's been frustrating this season but I am enjoying my football again.

"I spoke to the gaffer and he said at the start of the month, because there were so many games, he was going to chop and change.

"If you look at many teams in this league they can't do that, but we've got quality all over and we are able to do that.

"It's been fantastic.

"They are a great set of lads and it's nice to come here and play football in a winning team and a team fighting for promotion.

"It would be nice to stay on but we will just take it one step at a time.

"We will take it to the end of the season and then see where we are.

"I just want to play as many games as I can and help this team achieve promotion.

"As a professional footballer all you want to do is play and when you're not getting that opportunity it's hard.

"Now I've got the opportunity and hopefully I can kick on.

"You go home and you've got your family and friends but, as a professional footballer, you want to play week in, week out and when it doesn't happen you've just got to dig in.

"Now it's starting to happen.

"I am living in Birmingham. It's fine.

"I have lived in a few places but hopefully I am settled now and hopefully I can unpack the suitcases."

The 24-year-old has won on four of his five appearances for Albion and he believes the victory over North End shows Roberto Di Matteo's men have the firepower to clinch automatic promotion over the final eight games.

"As a team we gave away two sloppy goals on Saturday," Watson added.

"It looked like we were cruising when we were leading 3-1 and then they pegged one back.

"But we always look like we're going to score and we have scored in every game in 2010.

"If we can keep on putting them away and keep them out at the other end we'll be all right."

The former Crystal Palace star has also backed Luke Moore to shrug off a frosty reception from a minority of home fans when he came on as a 72nd-minute replacement for the tiring Ishmael Miller.

It was instantly drowned out by a wall of noise in support of the Baggies striker and Watson, who helped the Eagles win promotion through the play-offs, empathises with the Baggies striker having personally experienced similar incidents at Selhurst Park.

"It was a shame and it was nice to hear a lot of the crowd getting behind him," he said.

"I thought when he went on he worked hard and did well so it's disappointing to hear.

"I've been there and had it at Palace.

"But I think Luke is bigger than that and it won't affect him.

"I've had it, and I think every player has it, but it's just one of those things.

"You've just got to look past it.

"You go out there and do your stuff and if he had gone out there and scored two they would have been cheering his name.

"He hasn't mentioned it.

"He is probably bigger than that and it won't affect him.

"He will go out there and give 100 per cent every time he pulls on the shirt.

"I can't say anything to the crowd.

"They pay their money and they are entitled to their opinion.

"But Luke is bigger and better than that and I don't think it will affect him one bit."