Sunday 28 December 2014 20:55, UK
With his team nearing the relegation zone, Alan Irvine admits his attackers need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to move up the table.
The Baggies started the first half with passion but could not convert their chances and were punished as their hosts Stoke City scored twice in 15 minutes to seal all three points.
Irvine said: “We played well in the first half, we created chances. We perhaps could have been a bit more clinical in front of goal but I was happy with the first half performance. We talked about going on and being a little bit tidier in the final third and more clinical in the second half.
"Despite having a good opportunity to get the ball into the box at one end, we then went behind to a deflected goal. After that, we hit the post and then, unfortunately, we conceded another deflected goal. We didn't get too many breaks today.”
Gareth McAuley nearly got the visitors back into the game but his attempt came of the post with Asmir Begovic nowhere near it.
Irvine added: “We’re experiencing a bit of bad luck at the moment, along with a couple of bad deflections that have made it hard for Ben [Foster].
“The fans roared us off and on at half-time because they saw the players had performed well in the first half. With a number of attempts at Stoke’s goal but the second half was different.”
But with the club sitting 16th in the table having lost 10 of their 19 games, Irvine is aware his job may be under threat.
“I’m not complete control of that, but I’ll be working on West Ham tomorrow. We have good players in the dressing room and they’re good to work with.
“They’re all big games ahead and we need to get a good result.”
