Midfielder eager to build on outstanding Anfield win
YOUSSOUF Mulumbu has urged his team-mates not to let all their hard work in their outstanding Anfield win go to waste at home to Sunderland tomorrow week (ko 3pm).The DR Congo international made a successful return to action against Liverpool after recovering from the knee injury he played through the African Cup of Nations with.
And now he is eager to get the Baggies back to winning ways at The Hawthorns, where Steve Clarke’s eighth-placed men are winless in three games, having taken 21 points from their opening 30 available on home turf.
“It was great to be back on the pitch and my knee is totally fine now,” said Mulumbu.
“I feel really good and I am pleased we won this game, so it was a fantastic comeback.
“Before the game we were in a bad position so it was really important for us to finish this game to end a bad run.
“We did it in great style.
“We scored twice and didn’t concede a goal, but we had to congratulate Ben Foster because he had a great game and saved a penalty.
“It was a good performance from all the team and the result was great for us because now we can focus and prepare for Sunderland at home, which is a great opportunity for us to keep climbing up this league.
“We are in a great position to get to our target.
“I still think we can finish in the top seven so we will work on that.
“On Monday we won and we went up a place in the table.
“To have 37 points at this stage is not bad but we need to keep going to get our targets.”
Mulumbu was delighted to restore his central-midfield partnership with Claudio Yacob against the Reds.
The duo’s tireless work in the Albion engine room was key to the victory and when they have played together this season they boast a proud record of losing just four times in 14 league games.
“We have been unlucky, Claudio has been injured and I have been away, which has been hard on the gaffer,” he added.
“But I am glad to be back and winning again because that shows me I am important for the team, and I hope it will keep going for this team.
“I hope I am the lucky mascot and we will keep playing like this every week.”