Midfielder Robert Koren claims he was gutted Chelsea and Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup – even though it blew open Albion’s route to the final.
The Slovenian was keen to test himself against one of the big-boys of the Premier League
“It was a surprise to everybody that they went out and I was looking forward to meeting them at Wembley,” he said.
“Now that’s not possible but we are all still looking forward to the game anyway.
“We’re not really thinking about the Cup match because we want to be focused on our league games.
“But when the match comes at Wembley we will do everything we can to win it and get to the final.”
In fact, Koren claimed Albion will block the FA Cup from their mind until semi-final week to ensure they live with the pace in the battle for promotion.
The Slovenian international is set for a second Wembley appearance in less than 18 months in English football following last season’s Championship play-off final defeat to Derby.
But he played down the significance of the forthcoming match and insisted the Baggies’ focus shifted back to the Championship as soon as the final whistle blew at the Memorial Stadium yesterday.
“We have said all the time that we are focussed on the league games because we want to go to the Premier League,” said Koren.
“But now we are going to Wembley we will do everything to win there. But we need to wait. That game will come.
“The play-off game was bad, but it was a good experience and we’re looking forward to it now.”
Koren paid tribute to Albion’s scoring power after they took their tally to 13 from their last three FA Cup matches, all of which were away from home.
And he said he will relish the chance to play at Wembley again – when the occasion comes around. “Ishmael is a good striker and he scores goals,” said Koren
“He does it in training so we know how good he is. He deserved three goals and hopefully he can carry on in this form.
“We knew before the game it was going to be hard but we really wanted to play at Wembley and now we are there we’re looking forward to it.
“We already have experience there from last year when we played a final there.
“Scoring these goals wasn’t easy because we played all three games away from home but we know what we are doing on the field.
“We played three good matches and we deserve to be going to Wembley. We are working hard every day in training and when the games come we need to show that.
“When it is on TV it is more exciting.
“We always try to do our best and we deserved this win.”
And Koren also hailed the strength of Albion’s squad after his good friend, Zoltan Gera, started yesterday on the bench.
“We have a big squad so it is hard to say he should start every game,” said Koren.
“The point is to have a big squad so you can use different players all the time.
“It’s brilliant because everybody has done a job so far and hopefully it will continue like that.”
36 Comments
a typical mowbray player wants to play against the best there is,,what a great squad of players,proud to be a baggie…DOING THE DOUBLE THE MOWBRAY WAY,,,IN STYLE OF COURSE,,,OH YES
Don’t worry Bobby - next season you will get your chance. Just enjoy this introduction to wembley - I hope this is the first of many with the baggies.
If he’s gutted now,what’s he gonna be like after a semi-final defeat? An expensive day out for nothing while the likes of Stoke,Watford,Bristol City and Charlton make headway in the Championship.Demoralised Albion struggle to make play-offs and lose in the first round….Messing it up the Mowbray way Ha Ha. AYE OH POMPEY.
optimistic wolf : i detect green eyes and monsters in your comment at least we have made it this far and are going to make the play offs……mighty mick my arse
wembley, wembley, its a c**p ground in london, were we will beat pompey!!!!!
WELL SAID OPTIMISTIC WOLF COME ON POMPEY
AS YOU SAID A VERY EXPENSIVE DAY OUT AND ANOTHER EXPENSIVE DAY OUT WHEN WE BEAT YOU IN PLAYOFF FINAL MAKING UP FOR LAST SEASON.AT LEAST ALBION FANS CAN TELL US HOW MUCH A PROGRAMME IS AND A PIE AND PINT IS HAHAHAHAHAHA
While neighbours Wolves, with their continued inferiority complex, contend themselves with no Wembley appearance & a season of mid-table mediocrity.
Don’t worry - we’ll be playing our true rivals, Villa, next season.
Robbo, you sound like a sad pathetic child, grow up please.
I think most of us would love to be where you are.
Still hope Pompey beat you though
i think the fa cup this season sums up the state wolves are in.as a club we are far bigger than any of the clubs left in the competition,yet look at us.i know we are pathetic,so good look to albion,its about time a midland club won a proper trophy.
Gutted about the big boys? lets see you beat small little portsmouth then. You’ve had the easiest cup run i’ve ever seen!
Optimistic wolf.
Shame to see that the wolves arent sporting and want a fellow black country club to do well.Says it all really.
And om sorry rowley…you are simply delusional to think that you are bigger than us or pompey. Its simply not true.Ten years ago maybe but not now.
Focus on yourselves, the league and building the club back to what it used to be.I have no problems with a baggies wolves prem derby, with us being the only midlands clubs up there,
It was no easier than yours and you’re out. Says it all.
number 10,cardiff had an easier one,they played you mugs,keep looking up,baggies and lovin it!!
# shrewswolf said:
Gutted about the big boys? lets see you beat small little portsmouth then. You’ve had the easiest cup run i’ve ever seen!
Are you sure about that? Granted weve not drawn a premier league club til now but not once were we drawn to play at home!
…and all i keep hearing is how poor our away form is!!!
Optimistic wolf… Your post get more childish by the post!!!!
10… Only beat whats in front of you . do you think thats why we scored I think 16 goals to get where we are? and the Championships player of the year has only scored 2 of them.
I am sure your lot would love the chance to get beat by pompey in the semi final of the fa cup
What a team mozza’s put together, normally takes a team with so many new player at least a season to gel
ASTOUNDING, pity the finals at wembley though, gotta be one of the worst national stadiums, if the play
off final was anything to go by, not to worry though we’ll play up pompey, they won’t know what hit em
BOING…..BOING….
He’s going to look pretty stupid when they get knocked out.
your suppossed to be pleased the’re out numb nuts, mind you you’ll be out next round.
barnsley will lift the cup, no doubt about it.
the bulldog breed
no10 we had the easiest cup run look again every game away you just got passed cambridge or some small team at home you played a watford second string then came a cropper when their first team played you so shut up and give credit to a midland team
all the big guns are out,we still in it,boing boing
10 shrewswolf,easiest cup run ever you muppet,we`ve being drawn away in every round and only played once at home because of a replay,beat a team run by one of your ex players,won 5-nil in a midlands derby & 5-1 aginst a hard working side who knocked out a prem team,and this with most of the fringe players playing,who did you play???non league cambridge,watford 2nd team and cardiff,who had the easier draw???
Good luck to the Albion.
Maybe take your eyes off the league
3,6,10. Oh dear! I can just imagine the summer you lot will have if Albion do go on to lift the cup. A visit to your GP for a course of Prozac would be recommended.
weve got nothing to lose all the pressure is on pompey, im looking forward to see how our passing game
goes on goes on the big wembley pitch. i can see us conceding goals but i can also see us scoring aswell BOING
BOING
These sad Wolves fans surely would not want to swap places with us, would they?
10,away every round,yehh right and wolves are getting promoted this season,yehh right,dream on pal!
Dear dear Wolves fans. Some of these comments are pitiful.
Come on you Baggy boys, let’s have another expensive day out at Wembley.
No chance in semi final,Harry will be that bit sharper than Mowbray,boggie,s can not beat premier sides thats why they are called the yoyo,s.
Long faces on their way back from wembley.
Let’s see if I’ve got this right. Wolves have just taken 7 points from their last 3 matches, 6 away and 1 at home. That’s top Championship form. Yet the jealous ones are still on here banging on about Albion and trying to sack Mick-Mack. Could it be the difference in the style of football with our success coming from thrills, spills and entertainment, whilst they sleep through a game and have to ask how it finished up? They’re afraid of losing, hence defence and boredom. Quod erat demonstrandum.
29 even longer not getting there idiot!
I do agree with Koran. To have semi finals with little clubs like Barnsley, Cardiff and West Brom does make it a tin pot affair this year doesn’t it.
wolves fans i hear they do tours of wembley for £20 if you want to go. thats the only way yr gettin there
never mind dingles u might be able to go to the new new wembley whenever that one opens cuz yr so far behin us its untrue, u lot will never c this wembley, only on telly
Good luck on your semi. I think against Pompy you really will need a sack full. Big team full of big players who know how to score, yes not like our lot this year, but all the best for the trip!
Bye the way Happie_Baggie sad to see the cretin’s
Post 18 are on this site as well.
Up The Wolves
32 Stevebullstand.
Perhaps you should try Islam.