INJURY CONCERN...Albrechtsen

BRYAN Robson's defensive injury woes worsened after Martin Albrechtsen limped off with a hamstring problem only 14 minutes into the Southend stalemate.

The Baggies boss was already minus the services of Steve Watson (thigh), Curtis Davies (broken foot), Neil Clement (knee) and Thomas Gaardsoe (groin) in his rearguard.

And without a recognised defender on the bench, he had to call on winger Jonathan Greening to deputise at right-back.

"It wasn't helpful that Martin went off injured early in the first half," said Robson.

"I thought Jonno, considering it was his first time playing at full-back, did a good job."

Robson, however, was left bemoaning he did not have a single player over 6ft in his makeshift back-four when Southend striker Matt Harrold headed home a corner seven minutes from time.

The Albion chief was also reluctant to bring John Hartson off the bench due to his niggling ankle injury, meaning the hosts struggled to fend off the Shrimpers' height advantage from set-plays.

"I'm trying to protect John because of his ankle injury," he added.

"With us being 1-0 up, I wanted to keep him out and rest him.

"But, with Martin going off injured, it did leave us with a smallish side which meant we got punished late on when we didn't clear the corner.

"We weren't big enough to compete with them from corners because a lot of our defensive headers of the ball were out of the side.

"But we have still got to be better than that.

"We also need to start putting our chances away to kill teams off." 

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