Club News

McAuley: Let's set record straight

Defender has point to prove against Newcastle

GARETH McAuley is determined to set the record straight against Newcastle on Saturday (ko 3pm).

The Baggies looked to be heading for a well-deserved point at St James’ Park in October only to lose 2-1 to a fortuitous last-gasp goal off Papiss Cisse’s back.

Eighth-placed Albion will now host the 13th-placed Magpies, who hover just five points above the relegation zone, with five games remaining, after Sunday’s 3-0 derby beating by Sunderland.

“We're disappointed how our game went up there,” said McAuley.

“We were going through a patch where we were conceding late goals and that one topped it off.

“The shot was flying wide, hit Cisse on the back and went in. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

“Hopefully we can get out there and use the week we've had without a game to ensure we know our game plan, what we want to do and how we want to beat Newcastle.

“Hopefully we can do that, especially at home where we need to get back to winning ways.”

The Baggies centre-half is also eager to bounce back from successive defeats by West Ham and Arsenal and secure the four points they need to beat their best-ever Barclay Premier League tally of 47.

“The performance at West Ham wasn't right - we knew that,” McAuley added.

“I don't know what our record is after international breaks but we've come back after those games and there never seems to be the same energy in the team, for whatever reason.

“We were disappointed.

“We let ourselves down in that game and the goals against Arsenal were disappointing, although we could have got something from it.

“We've lost two - we need to put it right.

“With Newcastle coming up there is no better game to do it.  

“Hopefully by the end we'll have got more points than we got last year.

“There are targets there.

“And we desperately want to beat last year's target.

“We have to focus on that between now and the end of the season.”