Baggies boss eager to get back to business on training pitch
PEPE Mel felt his men threw away three points after taking a 2-0 lead and scoring three goals on their travels in tonight’s 4-3 derby defeat at Villa.
And the Baggies boss is now focused on getting back to business on the training pitch tomorrow to rectify his team’s defensive mistakes ahead of Sunday’s home game with Liverpool (ko 1.30pm).
Chris Brunt’s wonder strike and Fabian Delph’s own goal saw Albion storm into a two-goal lead within nine minutes.
But three goals for the hosts in the space of 25 minutes from Andreas Weimann, Leandro Bacuna and Delph gave them the advantage before Youssouf Mulumbu restored parity two minutes before the break.
While Christian Benteke’s 64th-minute penalty ensured Villa took the spoils.
“Did we throw it away? Yes, of course,” said Mel.
“The first 15 minutes at the start of the game were good for us but it is incredible to score three goals away and get no points.
“I wouldn’t say it was chaotic so much, I would say that it was a good spectacle for the spectators that paid their entry money.
“Both teams were trying to win and we produced a good spectacle.
“For me it wasn’t a good spectacle because at the start of the game, for 15 minutes, West Brom looked like they would win.
“Now we have no points.
“For me it is more important tomorrow we start work for the next match.
“I don’t think we need to change things just based on just one result.
“Despite the fact we got no points today, the attack performed very well.
“We just need to stop these errors."
He added: “I think that in the last game the players played well and I wanted to continue with the team that did well against Everton.
“We need to improve on our mistakes. For instance, the first goal was a big mistake and we need to improve on this.
“I believe our problem in this game was Christian Benteke and not so much our defence.
"We worked all week on the direct play of Aston Villa and I think this was our problem, not our own defence.
“We are in a relegation battle - but the table is tight.
“Three points is big because it puts you out of it."
Lugano was adjudged by referee Mark Clattenburg to have pulled down Benteke for Villa’s spot-kick – but the Uruguay captain was incensed he was not awarded a penalty himself later in the game, claiming his shirt had been pulled as he attempted to get on the end of a Brunt free-kick.
Mel added: “For me it was the same in the other box but the referee is boss and now we need to be better in the next match against Liverpool.
“For me he is a good referee. I am not going to comment on anything to do with the referee.”