Baggies skipper ready for Southampton challenge
CAPTAIN Darren Fletcher says a “devastated” Albion dressing room will recover quickly to face the challenge of the Club’s second away day of the festive period.
The Baggies were back in training today to begin getting ready for the New Year’s Eve trip to Southampton which will complete the first half of the season.
Fletcher believes that his team are still in an excellent position to “kick-on” and believes there will not be any lingering hangover from the bitter disappointment of losing 1-0 at Arsenal on Boxing Day to an 86th minute goal.
“Our season is not going to be defined by games against the likes of Arsenal,” says Fletcher. “They are bonus points if you can pick them up.
“There was devastation in the dressing room after that late goal but I’m sure we will pick up quickly. We are tight group.
“We’ve had a good season so far, we’re in a good position to kick on after one more game when we will have played everyone.”
That takes them to St Mary’s Stadium where they suffered a bad defeat last season and there is determination to right that under-powered performance.
Fletcher added: “It’s a tough game and another away game in the Christmas period which is not easy but we will deal with it.
“They are a good side with a great knack of selling players on and replacing them. It’s a tough place to go.
“Hopefully, it will be less hard work than at Arsenal and we will be able to take the game to Southampton a bit more and having a few more touches. It won’t be a case of us chasing the ball so much.”