Evans defends players' integrity
JONNY Evans dismissed claims Albion are ‘on the beach’ as ‘nonsense’ following Saturday’s 3-1 triumph over Arsenal at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies earned a 12th league victory of the season as they continue to pursue their highest-ever Premier League points total.
Evans also revealed how Tony Pulis motivated the players in the week leading up to the visit of the Gunners.
“We knew people were questioning us and people would be throwing out ‘they’ve slackened off since they got to 40 points’, ‘they’re on the beach’ and all that nonsense,” said the Northern Ireland international.
“The manager brought us in last Monday and we all thought we were going to get a dressing down about the last two games but he didn’t.
“He just put them aside and said ‘we’ve got 10 games to go, let’s go and enjoy them, pick ourselves up and go at them’.
“I thought it was excellent the way he did that.
“As players you might think about the last two games but he just put it to the side and just carried on and picked ourselves up and thankfully we got the win.”
DOUBLE DELIGHT: Dawson celebrates his second against Arsenal
Craig Dawson scored a header in either half as the Baggies claimed their ninth Hawthorns win of the campaign.
And Evans insists the right-back’s brace – which takes Albion’s goals-from-corners count to a remarkable 14 - is the result of hard work on the training pitch.
“Dawson scored two and we worked on that in training,” he added.
“We knew he’d have a free run into the box and ‘Daws’ is very good in the air.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t got more goals this season because he’s such a dangerous attacker for us.
“Him and Gareth - teams try to pick them up.
“Arsenal play a zonal defence from corners.
“So sometimes the lads on the six-yard box, unless you maybe have three players, you always try to get a block in to stop the player getting a run.
“But Daws seemed to have plenty of space. They probably didn’t defend that as well as they could have.
“We’ve got good deliveries coming in and that’s the most important thing.
“The lads put the ball in a great area and when you’re attacking corners it’s very important that the delivery is spot on to give you a chance of scoring.
“That’s probably the reason we score so many at corners.”