Club News

Liam hails famous five

Defender high on confidence after Albion’s flying start

LIAM Ridgewell hailed the efforts of Albion’s back five as Steve Clarke’s men secured their second clean sheet in three league games in a 2-0 victory over Everton at The Hawthorns. 

The Baggies have conceded only one top-flight goal so far this season - a deflected Benoit Assou-Ekotto effort at Spurs - with head coach Clarke able to select the same back five for all three fixtures.

And Ridgewell admitted his team mates were jubilant following their triumph over last season’s seventh-placed Barclays Premier League side. 

“We got another clean sheet and we’re buzzing with that, especially as it came against another top side,” said Ridgewell. 

“That’s pretty massive for the team and in particular the back five.

“Everton are doing well at the minute and I’m sure people will come unstuck against them.

“But we’re doing really well at the minute and hopefully we can keep that going.

“I feel fantastic and it was obviously a great win. 

“We maintained our unbeaten start which is obviously good for us.

“Gareth got the goal so maybe he might have tipped Olsson for man of the match but I think there were great performances all over the pitch and it wouldn’t have surprised me had either of them got it."

The 28-year-old reserved special praise for substitute Billy Jones who came off the bench to replace Steven Reid at right-back in the 53rd minute after he suffered a tight hamstring.
 
“It’s never easy to come off the bench and come into a tough game like that," Ridgewell insisted.

“He played really well and he adapted to the pace of the game very quickly.

“We all know what Billy can do and it’s great to be able to bring someone on who can replace Reidy so comfortably."

And the former Blues and Villa defender added: “I had a season with Blues where we went nine unbeaten at the start of a season and this feels similar to that.

“We have a strong mentality in terms of confidence and hopefully we can keep that going.

“It’s a pity that the international break has come really as we’d rather have kept the run going.

“But it gives a few of our boys a bit of a break and I’m sure we’ll start again when we get back.”