Moore hails West Brom’s goalscoring performance against Leeds

Posted Sunday, November 11, 2018 by PA

West Brom manager Darren Moore hailed the goalscoring power of his side after they hammered Sky Bet Championship promotion rivals Leeds 4-1 at The Hawthorns.

Second-half goals from Hal Robson-Kanu, Matt Phillips, Harvey Barnes and Dwight Gayle swept aside shell-shocked Leeds who would have gone top of the table with a win.

Leeds grabbed a consolation in stoppage time through Pablo Hernandez but that did not take the shine off the win for Moore.

Albion had only picked up a single point in their previous four games and Moore said: “I think it was a good performance from the team from the first minute really.

“We got up and at them early doors and were able to keep the momentum going. I’m pleased to win the game and get three points.

“We wanted a performance and we got one here tonight. We needed that.

“But the biggest thing for me was the ability to work with the team.

“For once the league programme had a break in the week and didn’t have a game and we were able to work in training. I think you’ve seen signs of that today.

“You’ve got to remember Leeds set a real pace and mentality about them. We talk about horses for courses for games. We’ve seen a different game by two teams in the division, who have set a relentless pace.

“You’ve got to remember they are an energised and quality team. I thought they added to the game and it was a good spectacle for the fans.

“This game will be different, the next one will be different. That’s what the Championship does, it throws up all these different conundrums and hurdles.

“It’s about finding your way through them. I like to think we got it right tonight.”

Albion could have been well in control by half-time before Robson-Kanu made their pressure pay after 51 minutes. Phillips doubled their advantage 16 minutes later before Barnes and Gayle struck in in the final eight minutes.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa blamed himself for side’s defeat – the heaviest of his reign at Elland Road.

Leeds had only lost once in seven games before arriving in the West Midlands and Bielsa said: “I feel responsible for this loss.

“We knew the features of the opponent was that they needed spaces to attack.

“In order to prevent the opponent from counter attacking we had not to lose the ball when we played out.

“Losing the ball when we built out from the back was what we had to avoid.

“We worked on this to prevent this from happening. If the opposite of what I designed happened I am responsible for it. What I could say is the score was a little bit too much.

“At times we were the team we normally are but the opponents scored goals because of what I said.

“When I take the responsibility for something it is because I have thought about it, am I responsible for it or not?

“We have many ways to avoid the opponent and the way he needs to play.

“The challenge between the head coach of West Bromwich and me regarding the game, he found he could play a game that was suiting the features of his team. That’s what I had to avoid with the ideas I had for this game.”