Interviews

Bilic: It was a complete performance

Slaven Bilić described Albion’s 1-0 victory at West Ham United as the ‘complete performance’.

The Baggies, buoyed by just under 5,000 travelling fans at the London Stadium, secured their spot in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup thanks to Conor Townsend’s first goal for the Club.

And after producing an accomplished and determined display against the Premier League outfit, the boss admitted he was incredibly ‘proud’ of his players.

Slaven said: “I can’t be any more proud. I can’t be prouder, they did everything. It was everything, it was a complete performance.”

“It was great defending when needed, especially after we went one man down.The first half, the way we passed the ball was great. What sums it all up was that at half-time I came in and I said the only thing I am not happy about is the result, and we were winning 1-0, but it should have been more. 

“But we believed, we wanted to come here and be on the front foot. We want to enjoy it and go through and have a proper game. It was a great performance from the lads to be fair. 

“This is a boost for the three months that is in front of us. We are committed and we are dedicated but we have to be even more so now. Now it is time to do it big time, and we are going to do it.

“It is easy to say that we were motivated today and not in other games, but that’s not true. We are motivated, but maybe sometimes the guys feel a bit of pressure and it is not easy. There are no easy games in the Championship - there are no easy games in football nowadays. We had a dip and we have to find the way to come back into winning ways in the league which is more important for us than the cup, but this should help a lot.

“It was a brilliant strike by Conor. It reminded me, probably because of the stadium, a bit of Aaron Cresswell, he has that kind of a drive. It’s brilliant for Conor, to be fair he was undeservedly criticised in recent weeks but he never lost focus, his confidence or his drive and if anyone deserved the winner today in this manner away from home against a Premier League team, that’s him and I am very pleased for him.”

  • Home