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‘Matty has been top drawer’ - Brunt

CHRIS Brunt believes Matt Phillips is back at the top of his game after he scored the goal to ensure Albion beat Newcastle United 1-0.

Phillips picked up where he left off last weekend in the triumph at St James’ Park, with Brunt heaping praise on the winger and crediting Darren Moore for giving him his confidence back.

“In the last couple of weeks Matty has been top drawer,” said the Northern Irishman.

“He’s got his confidence back and he’s like Matty from last season, and he was arguably our best player last year.

“When somebody puts him in and instills a bit of confidence back into his game then it gives him that bit of belief that he can go on, and when he does he’s a hard player to stop.

“He showed that again and to be fair to him, in the second half he dug in and grafted hard to help Allan Nyom when things got tough. So I’m delighted for Matty because he’s had a tough season.”

Brunt also lauded the rest of the Albion team as they held firm in a tough second half to claim all three points in the north east.

“At the end they put a lot of balls into the box that we had to defend. Each and every player worked hard for each other,” he added.

“When there’s only one goal in a Premier League game it’s always difficult but credit to the lads, we defended well and it was nice to get another win.

“Ben Foster is a good goalie. It gives you a bit of confidence when you know you’ve got one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League behind you.

“He proved that again today. He didn't have an awful lot to do but when he did have to save that one he made a great save.”

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