Club News

Brunt: We’re just getting started!

Northern Irishman sets fresh targets for Albion

WITH Albion having reached the season’s first big target by hitting 40 points in beating AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, Chris Brunt has called on the side to break new ground across the rest of the season.

“The next target now has to be 50 points. We’ve never done that in the Premier League. Then if we get there, we will reassess. 

“We’ve got a good group of lads who work really hard for each other and everybody knows what they’re doing, so we want to kick on.

“Last season we got to 40 points by the middle or end of March and the season fizzled out afterwards, so it’s important that we don’t let that happen again”.

Albion were grateful for a couple of terrific Ben Foster saves late in the game which ensured we kept all three points, but as Brunt says, that’s something they’ve come to take for granted this term.

“He’s been really good this season - top drawer.  We’re a good team and if somebody makes a mistake there’s always someone there to cover you and if 10 of you aren’t in the right place, we know we can rely on Fozzy.

“That save he made from the header in the last minute was a great save, though I think the one before that was for show!

“But the one he made in the last minute was a great save and it’s great knowing you’ve got somebody like that to rely on.

“You know if you get caught out you’re not always going to be punished because you’ve got a great goalkeeper behind you”.

After going behind to an early penalty, Albion were back in front midway through the first half, the goals coming from Craig Dawson and Gareth McAuley. Brunt says he’s delighted to see the goals coming from all over the pitch.

“That’s a good thing this year, we’ve got goals from all over the team.

“I’m sure Daws will be delighted with his goal, because he doesn’t get many from outside the box. 

“It was a pity his game ended a bit early when their defender headed the side of his head, but I’m sure he’ll be OK.

“It happens to him pretty much once a week in training anyway! He usually clatters somebody in training so “what goes around comes around” was said afterwards in the treatment room!

“He’s a committed boy. Even in training, he wants to win headers and score goals and if there’s a chance to go and put his head on something he will always do it and sometimes you come off a bit the worse for wear”.