Robson: "We're missing too many chances and that's giving other sides a chance in the game."

BRYAN Robson has urged his side to start finishing off their chances after allowing newly-promoted Southend to steal a late point in a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.

The Baggies looked like extending their 100 per cent home record to four games thanks to Nathan Ellington's 61^st-minute cracker - his first goal of the season from open play.

But Albion proceeded to miss a host of chances.

And when Kevin Phillips thundered an effort off the foot of the post in the 82^nd minute, the hosts paid the ultimate price as United broke immediately to earn a corner from which super-sub Matt Harrold levelled.

"It's disappointing again because some of the football we played was good," said Robson.

"We had good situations but didn't capitalise.

"However, I'm sure that little bit of fortune is going to change somewhere along the line.

"Phillips and Ellington looked sharper again and I think there is only improvement to come from them.

"As long as the rest of the team can keep creating chances like we are then the percentage of how many we score will go up.

"We're missing too many chances and that's giving other sides a chance in the game.

"That's what happened today."

The draw saw Albion drop a place to ninth but with results elsewhere going their way, they remain just five points off top spot in the Coca-Cola Championship table.

And Robson insisted his side were unlikely to go the whole campaign winning every game on their own patch.

"There is miles to go in the season," he stressed.

"There was frustration from the fans but I'll get on with the job.

"We haven't been beaten. We picked up a point and haven't lost any ground on the leaders.

"We're not going to win every home game. We'll get games like that - especially when you only score one goal."

But the Baggies boss believes his strikers' goalscoring records speak for themselves and that they will start putting their chances away more regularly.

He also reserved praise for 'The Duke's' second goal of the campaign before he limped out of the action with cramp in the 72nd minute.

Robson added: "I would be disappointed if people thought we hadn't played some good football and created chances - because that's what we did.

"The fans were a lot better this week than they were against Leicester last week.

"They were very anxious last week but the players kept probing and got their just rewards.

"Today, the first half was a bit scrappy.

"Their keeper made three good saves and we got in good situations where Phillips maybe could have squared to Gera and Ellington, who were free in the box.

"We played some decent football and got a great goal from Nath and were unfortunate a couple of other chances didn't go in.

"If we keep persevering and keep creating chances the quality of our strikers means they will score goals when they're 100 per cent fit, as their records show.

"We need to make sure we're really positive in our next few away games because that's where we're putting pressure on ourselves as we're not getting enough points on the road."

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