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Robson: "I'm not going to make injuries an excuse because the players I had out on the pitch should have done better." |
BRYAN Robson watched his side throw away a two-goal lead to crash out of the FA Cup at runaway Championship leaders Reading and insisted: "We should have done better."
The Hawthorns boss was forced to field a patched-up side after TEN first-team players were ruled out by injury and suspension.
But he refused to use that as an excuse for the Baggies' third-round exit.
The visitors stormed into a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to Richard Chaplow's double - his first goals for the club.
But they proved in vain as Royals hat-trick hero Leroy Lita levelled after the break before grabbing the winner in the first period of extra-time to set up a fourth-round home tie with Blues.
Robson said: "It was disappointing after playing pretty well in the first half. We passed the ball well and had good movement.
"At half-time, I just asked the lads to do the same but keep possession a bit better to take the sting out of the match.
"But, unfortunately, my lads weren't good enough to do that.
"Credit to Reading. They stepped up the pace a bit in the second half and scored an excellent second goal.
"I'm not going to make injuries an excuse because the players I had out on the pitch should have done better."
The chance to focus solely on securing Barclays Premiership safety for the remainder of the campaign was the only consolation the Albion chief could draw from the Madejski Stadium defeat.
And he admitted his side had wasted a great opportunity to get a confidence-boosting unbeaten run going after Sunday's 1-0 top-flight win, with ten men, at sixth-placed Wigan.
"It's disappointing we haven't been able to get a run going because, whatever competition the results come in, it breeds confidence," Robson stressed.
"Playing so soon after Sunday with ten men might have had an affect on one or two of my players but only half of my team tonight actually played on Sunday.
"The team was freshened up because of all the injuries and suspensions we had."
With a crucial home clash with bottom-of-the-table Sunderland looming on Saturday (ko 5.15pm), Robson added: "If you stay in the cup for a fair time, you do pick up injuries and suspensions.
"What this defeat means is that we know exactly what we're doing between now and the end of the season.
"We can concentrate on the Premiership.
"But that's the only consolation from tonight.
"Hopefully, it will help us to achieve safety."
