Left-back praises goalscoring debutant
LIAM Ridgewell is delighted Stephane Sessegnon will now be playing for rather than against the Baggies – after the attacking-midfielder scored on debut against former club Sunderland on Saturday.
The 29-year-old netted the opening goal in a 3-0 victory over the Black Cats and impressed throughout his first display in the blue-and-white stripes.
Sessegnon was on the scoresheet in each of last season’s meetings between the two clubs - and Ridgewell insists his display at the weekend came as no surprise to his new team-mates.
“He’s a quality player and we all knew that,” said Ridgewell.
“We saw that when he was at Sunderland, and getting him to Albion is obviously good for us.
“Hopefully he carries on the way he started - and that can only be a bonus for us.
“I think two seasons ago he was being touted for moves here, there and everywhere.
“To get that kind of quality to here is great and it’s a coup for the club to get him.
“I’m relieved to have him in our team because he’s a very lively character, and whenever I’ve played against him he’s been brilliant.
“So I’m glad he’s in our team and not playing for the opposition.”
And Ridgewell has called on his Albion colleagues to build on Saturday’s win when they take on Manchester United and Arsenal in their forthcoming Barclays Premier League fixtures.
“Our two away performances were very good and were good points, but on Saturday we showed what we’re all about and did very well,” he added.
“It was the win we wanted and three goals was very good for us.
“We’re very pleased with that.
“For me to get a goal as well was very pleasing and a little bit of a surprise, but the result was the most important thing and we got that.
“A result and a performance like that can only do us good.
“You just want to get a win under your belt and start off well.
“We didn’t get the start we wanted but we can hopefully build on Saturday and do well going into October.
“We know we’ve got Man United and Arsenal and people won’t expect us to get anything.
“People expected us to get something against Swansea and Southampton, so we might go and beat teams no-one expects us to beat.”