Club News

Lescott willing to win ugly

Lescott ready to face former employers Man City today

JOLEON Lescott insists Albion are prepared to put substance over style in their pursuit of points.

The Baggies have received plenty of plaudits for their patient passing approach and neat build-up play this season.

But those performances have at times not got the results they deserve.

Last Saturday’s trip to QPR saw Albion play the hosts off the park in the opening 20 minutes or so to take a healthy 2-0 advantage.

However, Charlie Austin’s hat-trick, including an 86th-minute winner, ensured Albion travelled back up the M40 empty handed.

And while Lescott, stand-in skipper in the absence of Chris Brunt, wants Albion to continue playing attractive football, he knows results come first.

“We like to play football in the right way, the manager instills certain things into us each week and we try to implement those in the games,” he said.

“Sometimes it shows and we get the rewards from it, and sometimes it doesn’t and we don’t get the rewards.

“But we don’t want to be known as a good playing team that never wins, we’d rather win ugly and not play great football.

“So, as I say, it’s important we get some results.”

He continued: “We’re disappointed by the result at QPR, not the performance, and we don’t want it to be a recurring theme that we keep saying that.”

Lescott’s former employers and reigning Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City are the visitors to The Hawthorns for today’s Boxing Day clash (3pm ko).

The Birmingham-born centre-back spent five years at the Etihad Stadium, collecting two league winners’ medals in the process.

And having swapped City for Albion in the summer, Lescott will come up against some familiar faces later today.

“I’ve still got a lot of friends there, not just in the team but around the club,” he said.

“It’s going to be exciting but my job is for West Bromwich Albion now.

“But as much as we’re friends, and I know they’ll be the same as they’re professional, there’ll be no friendly handshakes during the game. 

“We’ll do our bit beforehand and then we can concentrate on the game.”

The Blues arrive in the midlands without a recognised striker due to injuries to Sergio Aguero, Eden Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic.

Yet that did not stop them recording a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, Spaniard David Silva netting a brace.

Lescott added: “It’s the quality they’ve got regardless of who’s playing, it’s the level of quality.

“It’s very consistent, it’s very high, they may not have a recognised striker but they’ve still got the quality there.

“David Silva has played up front numerous times for Spain and they’re one of the best teams of our generation, so if you’re doing that then you can’t be half bad.”