Club News

Boss forced to make Morrison change

And Clarke holds hands up for Swans' second goal in defeat

STEVE Clarke has revealed injury forced him to take James Morrison off at half-time of today’s 2-0 defeat by Swansea.

The key midfielder picked up a groin problem and was replaced at the break by Graham Dorrans.

The former Middlesbrough ace is now a doubt for Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers against Belgium on Friday and Macedonia four days later.

“He felt a pain in his groin just before half-time,” said the Baggies boss.

“The medical people will assess it but I would imagine he’s doubtful for the Scotland trip.”

Saido Berahino was handed his Barclays Premier League debut on 75 as he came on with Markus Rosenberg as part of a double substitution for Scott Sinclair and Claudio Yacob.

And Clarke admitted the Swans’ second goal in the 83rd minute was a consequence of his gamble to throw on more attacking players in search of an equaliser - a risk he felt compelled to take.

“The second goal is down to me,” he added.

“It is a consequence of the changes I made to try and chase the game.

“I think the game could have petered out to a 1-0.

“We had a lot of momentum and were going forward a lot.

“We only looked threatening really on set-plays.

“I had a look at the bench and decided to put on two more attacking players to try and open the game up.

“When you do that against Swansea, who are a good counter-attacking team, you can always get caught – and the second goal killed us.

“I think, as a coach, if I don’t make those changes and the game peters out it’s a mistake.”