Club News

Clarke's delight with final flourish

And boss reveals just how hungry Lukaku is!

STEVE Clarke was delighted to see his side dominate in tonight’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest – their final pre-season game before next Saturday’s Barclays Premier League opener with Liverpool (ko 3pm).

The Baggies blitzed their Championship rivals thanks to Youssouf Mulumbu’s seventh-minute exocet and Shane Long’s penalty ten minutes later.

And Clarke, who fielded a strong starting XI, was also impressed by the performance of the substitutes he brought on in the second half.

“We came here expecting a difficult game,” said the Hawthorns boss.

“I thought we started really well, passed it well, got on top of them, and really dominated the game.

“We put ourselves into a healthy position to go on and win it.”

He added: “I thought the introduction of the subs in the second half didn’t lower the standards of the team as it can sometimes do.

“The substitutes acquitted themselves really well and really professionally and I have given them a compliment for that.

“Hopefully they will continue to do that all season and make my job really difficult to pick 11 players.”

Peter Odemwingie got 90 minutes under his belt at the City Ground on the day Albion added to their striking options by snapping up Chelsea ace Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan.

And Clarke revealed the Belgium hitman is chomping at the bit, having already asked for extra shooting practice.

“Romelu wants to work,” he said.

“He’s already asking me for extra shooting sessions and he hasn’t even started training yet.

“That tells you he has a hunger to learn.

“I was impressed when I spoke to him because he just wants to play football, improve himself and get better.

“His ultimate ambition is to play in the first team at Chelsea and if we can help him to do that then great.”