Club News

Reid: We must 'shut up shop'

Defender's call as Albion look to avoid becoming draw specialists

STEVEN Reid admits Albion must learn to ‘shut up shop’ if they are to avoid becoming the Barclays Premier League’s draw specialists.

Only Everton have drawn as many games as the Baggies this term – with half of their 12 top-flight games ending in stalemates.

Steve Clarke’s men have been left ruing the loss of four points in their last two encounters after being undone by a controversial penalty in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea and letting a two-goal lead slip in Monday night’s derby with Villa.

And Reid is hoping his 12th-placed team-mates can rediscover their winning mentality at Newcastle on Saturday (ko 5.30pm).

“Villa brought their subs on all at once and that made a little bit of a difference,” he said.

“But we have to weather that storm.

“We had a tricky little spell where we need to find more of a winning mentality and see the game out.

“It’s disappointing going ahead 2-0 and coming away with just a point.

“I don’t think the second goal seemed inevitable.

“There’s always a chance they are going to score and make it 2-1 but we have enough experience in the team to deal with that.

“We’ve all been there before and it’s disappointing we let them back in for a second.

“We had to dig in and make sure they didn’t get a third.

“It’s disappointing going 2-0 up and only coming away with a point, especially at home.”

He added: “In the Chelsea game we should have got all three points as well.

“Going 2-0 up in the Premier League, with the experience and quality we’ve got, we should go and win the game.

“It’s two draws that feel like two defeats.

“We just need to show our experience, especially us as a back-four, and dig in and shut up shop when you do get the 2-0 lead.

“When you do come under pressure for 15 minutes you need to shut up shop and make sure they can’t get back in the game.

“Unfortunately for two games now that’s not been the case and we have to look forward to Newcastle and hopefully doing that.”