Club News

Irvine: There's more to come

Baggies chief delighted with St Mary's Stadium point

ALAN Irvine was delighted with a point in today’s goalless draw at Southampton – and insisted there is more to come from his team.

The St Mary’s encounter pitted two sides in transition against each other after a summer of big changes at both clubs.

Irvine even had to hand earlier-than-expected debuts to substitutes Brown Ideye and Jason Davidson due to second-half injuries to Victor Anichebe and Sebastien Pocognoli.

And he was satisfied with the organisation his men showed to clinch a deserved draw.

“I’m very, very pleased with that display,” he said.

“I thought we were really solid.

“I saw Southampton play at Anfield last week and they looked a real threat going forward.

“But we were able to make sure they weren’t able to cut us open today.

“I was pleased about that and pleased with how we passed the ball at times.

“At other times I was a bit disappointed because we gave it away too cheaply.

“When we passed the ball well, as I said to the boys afterwards, we we were able to move up the pitch really well and got into some really good positons.

“Overall I was happy with the performance - it is a difficult place to come.

“I’m not unhappy with a point – that’s for sure.

I’m delighted with where the team are at this moment in time.

“It’s a team that’s only been together for the last two weeks. Prior to that we had ten to 11 players who were working on a daily basis with young players.

“So our meaningful work has only really happened in the last couple of weeks.

“I was disappointed with just a point last week.

“But I wasn’t disappointed today coming here and getting a point – I expected this to be a really difficult game.”

Irvine was reluctant to single out individuals for praise – but, when pushed on the matter in his post-match press conference, he admitted Youssouf Mulumbu impressed in the middle of the park.

“It was difficult to single anybody out – but he was very, very good; there’s no question about that,” he added.

“He broke things up when they had possession, he shielded the back-four very well and he passed it very well when he got possession.

“He was terrific but I’d be wrong not to mention the rest of the boys because they did the jobs they had to do - and did them really well.”