Interviews

Shan focused on Villa test

Jimmy Shan says Albion must put their final-day defeat at Derby to one side and immediately turn their focus to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off semi-final against Aston Villa.

The Baggies were beaten 3-1 at Pride Park on a day which saw Derby claim the victory they needed to confirm a sixth-place position. 

For Albion, it is now all about preparing for the two-game collision with their local rivals and Shan acknowledged this week’s preparation will focus on eradicating the errors which led to defeat against the Rams.

The Baggies looked to be getting on top when Stefan Johansen rubbed out Derby’s first-half lead with a super strike, only for the comeback to be stifled by two goals in three minutes, the second a disputed penalty.

“I think there were things within the game that we were happy with, but overall the nature in which we conceded all three goals was very disappointing,” said Shan.

“I think we were poor in the last 15 or 20 minutes and I have just spoken to the players about that and we have got to put that to one side very, very quickly and move on and move forward.

“We’ll be disappointed with some of our work without the ball in the first half. Their best chances came from distance; they are a team that have got some people that can strike from distance, from 20, 25 yards and that continued to be a bit of form in the second half, their best chances ironically came from distance.

“I thought we started the second half the first five or ten minutes reasonably well. When we scored the goal I fully expected us to gain some control in the game and take the game to Derby County. The second goal and the third goal and the nature we conceded all three goals wasn’t acceptable.

“You can look at human beings and maybe there is a bit of a distraction with the Play-Offs. You have always got that one eye on the Play-Offs. We secured our place very early, although we didn’t know who opposition were going to be but now we can put the last several days to bed and move forward. 

“We need to be fully focused and committed to making sure we formulate a game-plan to get a positive result against Aston Villa.”

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