Club News

Reid keen not to blot his copybook

Veteran going all out to avoid the drop

STEVEN Reid has spoken of his determination to ensure relegation does not appear on a CV which stretches back 16 years.

The right-back, who has started Albion's last five matches, is out of contract at The Hawthorns at the end of the season.

Since making his professional debut for Millwall in the second tier in 1998, Reid has never tasted the drop during his time with the Lions, Blackburn and Albion.

And the 33-year-old is in no mood to see the black mark against his name this term as he approaches the twilight of his career.

“Over the last few months I’ve been thinking about my own career, 11 years in the Premier League, and going forward whatever happens with my own personal situation in the summer – whether I stay here or move on – I don’t want a relegation on my CV,” he said.

“Eleven years in the Premier League and if it was to be the end of Premier League football in the summer then to finish it with relegation would be disastrous.”

He added: “When you sit down and chat with the lads, whether it’s loan players going back to their clubs, players out of contract or those who might retire – at the end of the day, relegation is not going to do you any favours whatever your agenda is.

“Relegation on your CV is going to devalue whatever happens for yourself going forward as far as I’m concerned.

“People’s jobs are on the line as well, these things cross your mind when you’re in this position. So it’s no time to relax after Norwich, I just keep that idea in the head and hopefully it will be enough to keep us in the league.”

The Baggies will be looking to follow up victory against Norwich last weekend with another positive result when Tottenham visit the Black Country on Saturday (ko 3.07pm).

Jonas Olsson secured a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane in the reverse fixture earlier this season, and Pepe Mel's side will go into this clash full of confidence having taken seven points from the last 12 on offer.

Spurs have conceded first in each of their last five league matches and six of their previous seven.

And Reid is aiming to continue that trend as Albion strive to strengthen their survival bid.

“It would be nice to get the first goal," he said. "Although it’s not always been the case this season, I think we’ve been two-nil up three or four times and not gone on to win the game.

“On their day Tottenham can beat anyone in the league. We’ve seen how good they are going forward but also if they don’t quite get it right then there’s a great possibility we can get a result out of the game.

“We got a hard-earned draw away on Boxing Day, so that was a good result down there, where we’ve done well in recent years.

“Hopefully we can go one better and get a win in this one.”