Club News

Ridgewell wants to see cup passion

And defender says early transfer business has helped

LIAM Ridgewell has urged his team-mates to go out against Yeovil in tonight’s Capital One Cup encounter (ko 7.45pm) with the same intensity they showed against Liverpool and Spurs in their opening two top-flight games.

The Baggies defender knows what it takes to win the League Cup having done it with Blues only two seasons ago.

And, while Barclays Premier League survival remains the main priority, Ridgewell wants another taste of Wembley.

“I don’t think we have exceeded ourselves, but they were obviously tough league games,” he said.

“You’re playing against two of the top five teams in the country in Liverpool and Tottenham.

“You always try to think you can win at home and get a draw away, so I think we’ve done well, and we need to build on that.

“Obviously I’ve won the League Cup before with Blues - and it’s a great thing to win.

“Our main priority is the Premier League and I’m sure the gaffer will say that but we want to go out and play well in every game that we play, and I’m sure we’ll be going down there to put a good display on.”

Ridgewell believes the Baggies’ early business in the transfer market has helped them make a flying start to the season, with the new signings bedded in before the season-opener.

And he says new boss Steve Clarke has already enhanced the work done by previous boss Roy Hodgson, who was watching from the stands at White Hart Lane on Saturday in his role as England manager.

The left-back insisted: “I think it’s a great idea to get everyone settled and everyone ready to go - and you come into the first two games of the season and we’ve shown what we can do.

“Everything is done and dusted and you can get on with the season instead of waiting around for everything.

“The squad is settling well and I think the new players are too."

He added:  “I think it’s always difficult following the England manager into a job.

“The new gaffer has come in and he’s gone about his business.

“He doesn’t shout and he doesn’t try to tell people what to do, he just tries to give people pointers on what they might want to do.

“I think you can see that’s paying off, so as long as that continues I think everyone will be happy.

“It was set so well last season I don’t think it made much sense to change anything.

“We’ve worked on a few things in training and he’s taught us a few new things.

“But I think we all know what we need to do - and we’ve got a good team.”