And boss calls on players to deliver strong start again
PEPE Mel fully expects to see the tougher side of Norwich in tomorrow’s Carrow Road encounter (ko 3pm).
The 15th-placed Canaries have been Jekyll & Hyde in their home and away displays this term.
Chris Hughton’s side have picked up just eight points on the road all season, in stark contract to on their own patch, where they are unbeaten in six games – including three wins.
But Mel is hoping his team can show over 90 minutes the form that saw them race into a two-goal lead within nine minutes against Cardiff last weekend.
“The most important thing is the football,” he said, after another testing week.
“What the fans want to know is who is going to play and how we’re going to play.
“What we’re going to try and do is play like we did during the first half-an-hour against Cardiff.
“But with Norwich it’s almost as if it is two different teams, two versions, – the team that plays at home and the team that plays away.
“We’re actually going to be facing the better version of Norwich.
“Norwich at home are a very strong team and it’s going to be a very difficult game.”
The Baggies will be backed by a sell-out 2,500 following in Norfolk, with 2,000 supporters being ferried by free coach travel provided by the club as a thank you to them.
“A similar thing also happened against Swansea and we were able to celebrate the victory with the fans,” added Mel.
“We weren’t lucky enough on the pitch for this to happen against Hull but it’s very important for us to know the fans are there with us.”