DUGOUT DUTY...Mowbray and counterpart Wenger

TONY Mowbray has urged his players to regard their Carling Cup third-round exit against Arsenal's stars of tomorrow as a 'benchmark' to aspire to.

Goals from Jeremie Aliadiere either side of the break - the first a controversial penalty - ended Albion's four-game winning streak.

And the Baggies boss insisted his men were given a footballing lesson by Arsene Wenger's impressive young guns.

"I'm pretty sure we're not going to play against a team of that quality in the Championship all season," said Mowbray.

"Their athleticism and technical ability was very good, especially the more the game went on.

"We had to change things to try to get back in the game.

"What Arsenal are very, very good at is finding space on the pitch. They try to utilise that to hurt people one-on-one.

"Whatever you try tactically, they seem to find the answer for it.

"All first-half we more than matched them and the penalty was a blow to us because when a team like that get in front they can retain the ball and make it difficult for you to get it back.

"As you go chasing it, they can pick you off.

"Arsenal didn't necessarily pick us off but they scored the second from a set-play which more or less put an end to the game because of the way they retain the ball.

"It's difficult to get back into the game against Arsenal."

The Gunners opened the scoring in the 34^th minute when the recalled Steve Watson was adjudged to have felled Aliadiere, who took advantage of Paul McShane's slip on a rain-sodden pitch to ghost into the box.

"If the referee says it's a penalty, it's a penalty," added Mowbray.

"You won't get me arguing about decisions.

"There were a couple of slips in the build-up to the penalty which were unfortunate.

"But you can't take away the fact they've got quick, agile players all over the field.

"That's a credit to them and a benchmark for us as we move on because that's where we want to play - in a league where those players find it hard to get into their first team."

It was the Baggies' fourth game in ten days on the back of an international break.

And with an important derby date at Blues on Saturday (ko noon), Mowbray explained why he made six changes to the side that beat Wolves 3-0 on Sunday, which included a first start in 11 months for Russell Hoult between the sticks.

"The workload of the likes of Jason Koumas, who played two internationals before this run of games, means you're asking a hell of a lot of players to keep continuing at their peak every three days," he said.

"That's why we made some changes.

"I'm not really one for changing the team around but our focus must be the Championship.

"We must try to continue picking up points.

"There are certain players who have been influential who I left out and gave others opportunities.

"As for Russell, he had a dead leg/thigh strain over the last couple of weeks.

"He's trained the last few days and it was important I got to see him play.

"We had a look at him tonight and he did okay." 

See post-match interviews with Tony Mowbray and Nathan Ellington NOW on Albion TV. To subscribe, click here.