Midfielder eager to reward travelling fans at Swansea
YOUSSOUF Mulumbu is hoping to repay Albion’s army of travelling fans at Swansea on Saturday with a crucial victory in the club’s fight for survival.
The Baggies will be backed a by a sell-out 2,000 supporters at the Liberty Stadium as 14th entertains 17th in the Barclays Premier League.
And the DR Congo international hopes they can act as a 12th man to bolster the team’s confidence after a run of one top-flight win in 18 games.
“We didn’t really expect this situation when we started this season,” said Mulumbu.
“We need to adapt.
“We know how hard it is to stay in the Premier League and we’ll keep working together as a team.
“We’ve got some good players, good lads and I’m really confident in my team that we can stay up.
“At the moment there is a lack of confidence and the best thing is to encourage.
“We won’t give up because that would be unfair to all the people at West Brom and the fans.
“We’re going to fight to stay in the Premier League.
“We also need the fans’ support because when you’re on the pitch, under pressure and fighting for your life in the Premier League you need encouragement.
“It will be really important for us to have 2,000 of our fans there on Saturday because if we feel on the pitch like we are 12 men it will be great for the players.
“And I’m telling you we are going to be doing our best to stay in the Premier League."
Mulumbu joined the Baggies in January 2009 but played little part during the second half of that campaign as the club suffered relegation.
He helped the Baggies bounce straight back to the top flight and admits this season has been the most challenging during his time at The Hawthorns.
“Yes, it’s been a really, really long season for me,” he added, as he prepares to face a Swans team who have lost more matches at home this term than they have won.
“We need to try to save the season.
“I think we need to win four or five games to stay up.
“At the moment we’ll just concentrate on playing for our Premier League life.
“The table is really tight.
“To win at Swansea will be hard – but not impossible.
“We won at Manchester United, we drew at Chelsea, when a strange decision cost us all three points.
“And we’ll be looking to do it again for the Albion fans.”
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