West Brom: Tony Mowbray runs out of patience with defence
“Were Arsenal’s goals anything to do with team shape or organisation? I don’t think so, because on their first goal, there were nine players in the box to defend the second phase of a corner. We didn’t defend it. We backed away and allowed Bendtner to shoot and score.
“The second goal was similar to the first one we conceded at Everton where a wide free-kick comes into your box and the boy gets a free header on goal.
“Even the third goal was just a long straight ball through to a centre-forward who just made a run and scores. The defending has got to improve. It’s got to be better.
“I take responsibility for bringing these players to the club, but the defenders, at the moment, are not stepping up to the job or delivering the standard required. It’s as plain and simple as that for me.
“They were shocking goals to concede. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Mowbray said the defensive errors were having a knock on affect on the other departments in the team and the Hawthorns crowd, which was subdued and nervous every time Arsenal went forward on Tuesday night.
“If you concede poor goals, you can take the stuffing out of the atmosphere in the stadium and out of the team,” said Mowbray.
“I feel for our supporters because they create such a good atmosphere in the stadium. They’ve got such energy. Yet we keep shooting ourselves in the foot by sucking that energy out of the stadium due to the type of goals we’re conceding.
“Sometimes, you don’t mind losing football matches if the other team is just too good and are cutting you to shreds. Yet the manner of the goals didn’t suggest that.
“I do accept Arsenal are a better team than us – but it’s the manner of the goals we’re conceding that is galling.
“After seven minutes, we make it 1-1, then there’s a free header in our box and a straight ball over the top and we’re 3-1 down. The energy from our supporters then gets sucked away.
“Great credit to the fans because, if I’d been a supporter, I would have let the team, manager and everyone know at the end how I felt about it. Great credit to them that there wasn’t a mass show of disaffection towards the team.
“I think they have got a crucial part to play but I feel for them because this team keeps shooting itself in the foot. Every time the ball goes in our box, the opposition look as if they’re going to score.
“It must be hugely frustrating for the fans – and it certainly is for us.”
