Defender says upturn in Hawthorns form will be key to higher finish
BILLY Jones says Albion will need to make The Hawthorns less welcoming to away teams if they are to improve on last season’s tenth-place finish.
The Baggies managed to record their highest league placing in 31 years – despite losing as many as ten games on Black Country soil.
Only the three relegated teams suffered more defeats on their own patch.
And Jones, who enjoyed an encouraging first year at the club after signing on a Bosman last summer, says that is a statistic they must look to transform during 2012/13.
“We let ourselves down in some home games with sloppy performances and individual mistakes,” said the former Preston defender.
“If we can be more consistent by winning the games at home that maybe on paper we should win, and then add another few shock results, that should definitely help us finish higher in the league.
"Consistently performing well normally means that you win more games than you lose.”
Jones says eclipsing last season’s 47-points return and league placing will be tough – but insists that’s the aim.
“I’d imagine everyone is thinking the same thing going into the new season and that’s to improve on last year,” he said.
“Obviously, last year we got some great results, such as the win over Villa at Villa Park, which had been a long time coming.
“I think the fans will be thinking the same as the players and they will just want to improve again.
“Last year, our aim was to finish higher than 11th and this year it will be to finish higher than tenth.
“That’s obviously the same as every season. You just want to carry on improving as a team and as a squad.”