Interviews

Dawson targets extended home run

CRAIG Dawson has called on his team-mates to maintain the Club’s best run of home form in more than eight years.

The Baggies overcame Bristol City 4-2 to claim their fifth-successive Hawthorns victory in all competitions - the longest winning streak on home turf since Roberto Di Matteo’s men won seven on the bounce to earn promotion in 2010. 

And the 28-year-old centre-half says there can be no complacency as Darren Moore’s men prepare to host Millwall on Saturday (ko 3pm). 

“In this league it’s very important to have good home form,” said Dawson. 

“It’s great for the home fans to get behind us and see us playing well. We need to make sure that stays that way. 

“Everyone wants to come here to our nice stadium and play against West Bromwich Albion. We need to be on our guard and make sure we keep that run going at home. 

“It will be a tough game against Millwall and I think lessons have been learned from earlier on in the season. 

“We’ll be preparing well and getting everybody patched up and ready. 

“Make no mistakes, we’ll be doing everything we can to be prepared. 

“Millwall will give everything they’ve got against us and as a group of players we’ve got to see each challenge as it comes. The staff will be preparing us mentally for the game and obviously on tactics. 

“Hopefully we can continue to look dangerous going forward again on Saturday.”

Dawson was proud to wear the captain’s armband for the first time in his career on Tuesday - but insists his sole focus is on helping the team to rack up wins. 

“It was great to be captain and to wear the armband but more important than anything else is that we got the win. 

“It was obviously important to bounce back, I think everyone was disappointed with the overall performance against Birmingham. 

“We didn’t play well and we got a point so looking back now I think that was a great point, but it was important to get back to winning ways last night.” 

The former Rochdale man says he is enjoying Albion’s attacking style this term - but admits there is still plenty to learn. 

“We’re playing enjoyable football,” he added. 

“It’s new to us as players and we’re all learning and every training session we are developing. 

“At times the fans will have to be patient with us, but I’m sure they will because we’re working hard to play exciting football. Hopefully that will result in lots of goals. 

“Playing out from the back has already resulted in goals, Dwight’s great goal against Stoke came from Sam throwing it out, so did his goal tonight. 

“As players we’re all learning and developing our game and it is an education for us. 

“There will be times when we take a few risks and there will be errors and from those errors we will get better. That’s what we want to do as a group. 

“The management team are working hard to improve us all and that’s what’s happening at the moment. 

“There’s a real belief in the squad and last night shows the quality we have going forward.” 

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