Dean Kiely today kicked off the countdown to tomorrow’s crunch Black Country derby by insisting Albion’s big-game players will flourish in the Molineux hot-house.
The Baggies travel to Wolves for a crucial clash in the race for the Premier having dropped two points at home to Watford on Saturday.
And Kiely is adamant Albion’s stars have the perfect temperament for the hostile atmosphere that awaits them.
The veteran keeper said: “You either stand up to the big games or you shy away from them.
“All our lads stand up and want to play in these kind of big games.
“Tuesday is a big game, regardless of what happened on Saturday. Win, lose or draw against Watford, it would have been a big game for us.
“We’ll be there at Wolves under the lights and it means a lot to the players and certainly the fans.
“You give teams the utmost respect in terms of what they’re about, but we know that if we prepare fully then we know we can be effective.”
Saturday’s draw with The Hornets left Albion second in the Championship, a point behind leaders Stoke.
And with four games left Kiely is braced for the promotion race to go to the final match of the season at QPR.
“I think it probably will go to the wire,” he said. “Nobody’s taken it by the scruff of the neck and gone on a run, so there’s every chance. We are where we are and we have to go out and be positive in the remaining games.
“Nobody’s running away with it, we’re in the ‘mincer’ and we believe we can get where we want to.”
Kiely refused to comment at length on rumours that new Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is trying to lure him out of international retirement.
But he hinted there has been some contact with Trapattoni and assistant manager Liam Brady.
Kiely said: “It’s nothing I can really speak about, but I take it as a massive compliment that people of Liam Brady and Trapattoni’s stature have highlighted me as doing a good job at a good standard.
“I will keep private what’s gone on and what is said. It’s private until they decide to make it public but it’s a huge compliment that people involved in international football feel I can do a job.”
15 Comments
priceless..THE WORST KEEPER IN THE DIVISION, TELLING THE OTHERS TO SHAPE UP.
how worried are you lot then!!! .. well let’s face it guys, comming to molineux to take on wolves..IT’S YOUR CUP FINAL ISN’T IT.
CRUSING INTO THE PLAY OFFS THE MCARTHY WAY..IN STYLE OF COURSE..OH YES.
People like Phillips, robinson will flourish I agree, but deano as a wolves fan I see you as a weak link, barnet also. Team selection for you guys will also be crucial. Ia albechtson going to be fit, is Phillips going to start with Miller?
Albion have already proved themselves in a big game lately at Wembley where they lost.When it comes to the big occasion,they bottle it.
Ha ha - wolves fans talking about bottling it in big games….. the ONLy big games you have are against us - and one win in 7 says it all about your teams bottle.
Play offs - bottled it
FA cup - bottled it
11 point lead bottled it
Yeah we’re shaking in our boots…
Im so excited about tomorrow, and nervous,we have to stop Sandwell play and close down Greening who is their main play maker, I feel it is a big blow with Henry out.
If SEB can find his form I would like to think we can win it, but (and I hate to say it) the boggies do not give in and have proved they can score plenty of goals.
Im not going to say that we will thrash the boggies there are enough fans saying this already,If we come out and play to our full potential we can win but it is to close to call
COME ON WOLVES
HAPPY BOGGIE..HOW MANY WEMBLEY FINALS HAVE WE LOST..HOW MANY PLAY OFF FINALS HAVE WE LOST..
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK NEXT TIME SON..TEN YOU WON’T LOOK SUCH A FOOL..
THRASHING THE BOGGIES THE SYLVAN WAY..IN STYLE OF COURSE..OH YES.
ha ha ha…standing up in the big games, just like you do at wembley. staying down the mowbury way boing boing.
6. How many play off SEMIS have you lost eh?
4. Apparently Wolves live in the past?
All your doing there is dragging up the past…Oh well whoever wins tomorrow wins. No ones gonna change it with words…How pointless.
COME ON YOU WOLVES!
WHY are u gonna flourish at the molineux u ain,t anywhere else so far this season even though everyone expected u to we ain,t the same team you played at the poorthawnes WE HAVE SEB AND JARVIS NOW WOLVES FOREVER
JONAH.. 2, NORWICH AND THE BOGGIES. BUT THAT WASN’T THE ISSUE WAS IT.
HOW MANY FINALS WAS THE QUESTION, AND WHEN WE DO EVENTUALLY GET TO THE NEW WEMBLEY..OUR UNBEATEN SEQUENCE WILL CONTINUE.
WEST BROM WILL ALWAYS HOLD THE RECORD AS THE BIGGEST LOSERS AT WEMBLEY..2 OUT OF 2 SO FAR..BUT YOUR LOT ARE GUARENTEE’D TO EXTEND THAT.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS..THE ONLY BLACK COUNTRY SIDE WHO CAN WIN AT WEMBLEY..IN STYLE OF COURSE..OH YES!!!!!!!!!!
Southbank, you really are doing my head in now with your jibba jabber !!! Your starting to sound like some camp comedian. Kids, the past is the past, 2moro nite is by far the most important of recent battles, may the best team win.
We bottle it yet you’ve lost at twice at Wembley.. once was to DERBY! The worst team in Premiership history!
Happier_Baggie said: Apr 14th, 2008 at 2:06 pm Southbank, you really are doing my head in now.
GOOD!!!!!!!!!
NOW BOG OFF BACK ON YOUR OWN THREADS IF YOU CAN’T TAKE IT. TYPICAL BOGGIE..CRYING HIS EYES UP..I’LL ASK YOUR MOM TO USE THE PARENTAL CONTROL ON THE COMPUTER IF IT’S UPSETTING YOU THIS MUCH.
6 - “how many wembley finals have you lost” - err how many have you been in (I’m only 44 so don’t remember too many).
You won one play off final - so did we, we have just been in more of them than you - even though we usually get promoted automatically.
Its easy to say you aint lost when you aint there isn’t it ?
You could try to think before you speak, but to be honest I don’t think it will help.
TYPING THE SOUTHBANK WAY WITH CAP ON - OH YES !