And boss delighted to see team get back to miserly ways
STEVE Clarke has hailed the form of Zoltan Gera as he weighs up his options for Saturday’s trip to Wigan (ko 3pm), insisting the midfielder is making it virtually impossible to leave him out of the team.The Hungary international starred in Monday’s 2-0 win over Southampton – his fourth start in the last five games.
And Clarke is particularly impressed with how Gera has taken to the No.10 role in the last two games, with regular incumbent James Morrison playing deeper against Newcastle and missing the Saints clash through injury.
“Zolly has played in different positions for me in the last few games,” said the Baggies boss.
“Because of injuries to other midfield players he has played in that No.10 position behind the striker and he has done really well.
“But wherever you play Zolly, when he’s in a moment like this, you have to find a place in the team for him because he’s playing fantastically.”
At the other end of the pitch, Clarke was glad to see his team get back to their miserly ways by keeping a clean sheet against Southampton, after conceding six goals in the previous three games.
Albion will now head to the DW Stadium with the joint-fifth best defensive record in the top flight, having let in only 11 in the opening ten games.
“It was a case of getting back to basics a little bit, knowing, if we defend well, we always create chances,” he added.
“We know over the previous three games we conceded six goals, which is not like us.
“So, we wanted to be solid, and we know, if we do that and defend well, we have players who can hurt the opposition on the counter attack.”