Simpson still believes in partnership

Monday 23rd February 2009, 11:18AM GMT.

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Albion hot-shot Jay Simpson believes he and strike partner Marc-Antoine Fortune can still fire the goals to keep the Baggies in the Premier League.

The on-loan Arsenal youngster admitted the team ‘let themselves down’ as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Fulham.

But the 20-year-old insists they can still stave off relegation – led by himself and fellow loanee Fortune.

Simpson said: “I like working with Marc. He works hard and we work well off each other, going in behind and coming to feet.

“I think the more we play together, the better we will become a partnership. Hopefully we will get some more goals between us. From the first day he came in, we played well together in training and hopefully we can become a good partnership.

“I think we still believe we can stay up. There were a lot of disappointed players after the game, because of all the work we’ve done in the week. We let ourselves down.

“In patches we did well defensively and looked hard to beat, but the first goal, from a cross, was a cheap one for us to concede. It was disappointing not to get a result, but I think Fulham played much better than us.”

Albion’s tough series of fixtures continues on Saturday when they travel to Everton.

Simpson admits they must keep striving to find the key to away success, after a defeat which left them with just one point from their last 10 away league fixtures.

He said: “It depends where you go, but at some stadiums it is difficult to play away from home. But it’s something we need to work on, because we need to start picking up points away from home.”


  1. 1
    yorkshire-kennyfoggo

    Yes – we need to stay positive and get behind the team and management. Personally I like Bednar up front as he seems to make things happen and puts defences under pressure – such as the slightly lucky penalty yesterday. (even if he did miss it !!)

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  2. 2
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    Jay.
    Don’t try to defend that performance in any way. I’m a die hard supporter and even I admit that it was dismal, tripe, dire whatever description anyone wants to put on it. We are better than that display but like recovering alcoholics the first thing the players must do is to admit their own parts in it. Lee Dixon and Martin Keown highlighted the main problems on MOTD2. Lack of effort and application both physical and mental, especially in the midfield. Lack of discipline and teamwork. We are probably going down but let’s at least go down fighting.
    Fulham are a good home team and a point would have been a great result but we were lucky it wasn’t a landslide. I seem to have said this so many times with the Albion but surely after the last couple of games, the only way is up.

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  3. 3
    Carl Jones

    Mowbray to blame i’m afraid. No ball winner in Midfield. I’d seriuosly contemplate replacing Mowbray with, say, Roy Keane, till the end of the season. At least he may install some fight in us.
    And did anyone notice Mowbray laughing at the end of the game….i certainly wasn’t!!!

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  4. 4
    Bag lad..QUALITY???

    Wanted a ball winner all season..
    Too late now im afraid.
    Lucky not to be 5 down by half time..
    And this was Fulham we were playing for gods sake..

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  5. 5
    Nedball

    We were awful from front to back yesterday. Our midfield is far too lightweight. I think Mozza should have been out wide right and Koren in the centre personally. It’s gone now, let’s just hope the performance levels can get back to a decent standard sooner rather than later.

    Greening and Olsson will walk straight back into this team when they’re fit. I’m looking forward to a nice day out in Liverpool on Saturday any way…..I just hope it isn’t spoilt by the football. A nice boring 0 – 0 draw would do me fine!!

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  6. 6
    Twizzle

    We all knew where we were weak last season. Mowbray did nothing to address it. We look like conceding in every game, so we will have to score two games each match to stand any change of surviving. Thats a big ask! Mowbray stated we have to attack because our defenders are not good enough. Thats a strange statement from the person who signed them all apart from Robbo! A change is needed, but who would you bring in?

    Owen Coyle (Burnely) or Martinez (Swansea) are the only ones that spring to mind.

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  7. 7
    blackheath baggie

    What game was Simpson playing in. Defended well in patches. It could have been 9 – 0. Load of tripe. Mowbray out now.

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  8. 8
    TERRY ROMEO BAGGIE

    Jay between me and you mate i think your the only one that believes it,aye boing boing donk

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  9. 9
    TERRY ROMEO BAGGIE

    5 ned,making there keeper make a save would do me,we meeting in the arkle then walking across the park,might have a go on the swings,aye boing boing giz a push

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  10. 10
    Jeff

    I think Mowbray laughing, was at the irony of getting a penalty but not even managing to score from that!
    I think the team mirrors the manager – no passion and no ideas!!

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  11. 11
    Nedball

    9 – Tezza, we went in the Arkles for the Liverpool match, so I’ll definitely be in there too. I’ll either be by the side entrance or in the smoking area out the back with it’s jet engines for heaters.

    I still think all this ‘Mowbray out’ stuff is a load of rubbish. He’ll get us back up next season, so keep him in there. Besides, he’ll have a load more experience 2nd time around and will learn from his mistakes.

    Have some faith in the manager, we need to stick together at times like these.

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  12. 12
    baggie 9

    I still beleave we are stoping up.We got beat by a better team on sunday,Murphey was the difference.We are mising GREENING big time and OLSEN.Theres still enough points to get out of this.GET BEHIND THE TEAM.

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  13. 13
    baggiepaul

    It`s no good changing the manager now even though he makes mistake after mistake. Carl Jones do you really think that Keane could make our powder puff midfielders put a tackle in. I have never seen such a light weight load of weaklings.

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  14. 14
    The Real Bully Hoo.

    5 Ned.
    Whatever the score is going to be, I think you’d get at least a million to one on nil-nil.
    11 Ned.
    Well said. He will get us back if he’s given the chance and he will be older and wiser. All this Mowbray out, knee jerk reaction is working on the theory that if we change the manager everything will be alright. If we do this it will be the beginning of a long downward spiral. The same people were saying the same thing about Gary Megson, some of them are now saying they’d like him back. TM hasn’t become a bad manager overnight, he’s suffering from trying to compete in a league of millionaires on a modest budget while playing football (Happy Baggies, five pinter simile still applies.) He will know better next time but he can’t if he’s not here.

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  15. 15
    TERRY ROMEO BAGGIE

    i aint saying we was that bad but at everton ive asked for a restricted view,aye boing boing donk

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  16. 16
    Albion Til I DIE!

    Simpsons mind is still back at Arsenal.The only thing he’s interested in is cathing the eye of A.Wenger.Going on the performance he put in Sunday he’s got no chance.If i was him i whould concentrate on W.B.A.because he will never get in thde Arsenal 1st team.Atleast then we mighnt consider signing him,but at the moment NO CHANCE!

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  17. 17
    Nedball

    14 – TRBH. I think I’m just hoping for a 0 – 0 because Arteta, Anichibe, Yakubu etc. are injured……but I too think the chances of us walking away from Goodison with a point in the bag are somewhat remote…..I am still cursing the dropped points from when we outplayed them at the Shrine though…..dam you and your predatory instincts Yakubu!!!!!!!!!

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  18. 18
    Lichfield baggie

    Another match and a poor performance were has the bite gone? The defence again all over the place,in fact not a clue!! Do we miss Greening. Its not the defeat its the manner of the performance. Poor no back bone! No passion AGAIN!

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  19. 19
    boy from the REAL bl

    I agree with simpson, we did defend well in patches during the 2-0 massacre – i remember a two foot square patch just inside our penalty area where we almost won a tackle and i think i could remember a patch near the corner-flag, second half but i may be wrong on that as i was on me sixth pint by then.

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  20. 20
    yoyobaggie

    JEREMY PEACE SHOULD GO NOW, he is the one who cant get it in to his thick head that you have to pay good money for players with the know how of the premier division, the likes of barnett from luton is not going to be effective is he? so what chance do we have eh? meite is to injury prone,but i think he was a bit of a panic buy,i bet meggo is laughing, donk, no way,i expected more from the loon really, he was okay at first,but he has now come down to the level of the others at the back, no wonder carson is so jittery now,robinson is an umperlumper in stature and gets beaten too often in the air, maybe midfield is the ideal place for him, because the midfield is so light weight its untrue, its powder puff in fact , valero, kim, get knocked of the ball to easy,and what about us giving the ball away on sunday,i thought that we supposed to be the passing the ball about team, and where was the man marking? i like the look of the front line though,anyway JEREMY PEACE has to pack his bags and get out,he is the chairman who has been in charge of the club and has failed us every time weve been in the prem,so lets get someone in who has got some cash to spend and some balls.

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  21. 21
    yoyobaggie

    i think we were still in holiday mode on sunday,i hope we dont go to spain again.

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  22. 22
    madgarry

    Ide like to see our players show some passion and comitment,they didnt at Fulham and let themselves and the fans down,come on guys show what your made of,if we get relegated its no one elses fault but your own and theres no point in moaning about being in the championship and wanting to leave the club as you want to play at a higher leval,youve got to prove you can do that and so far you havnt,pull your fingers out and start working for each other and the team,at the end of the day its us fans who help pay your wages,damn well earn it….

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  23. 23
    no1baggiesfan

    Yes Jay, you and Marc keep scoring and we’ll keep losing 2-3, We need BOTTLE in midfield NOT pansies like Valero, he is a joke at 4.5M.

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  24. 24
    1954 Baggie

    Everything said before is true so why not put a
    tackler in midfield Robinson or Donk ? and get
    Olssen back.Fulham have only lost one at home and
    have one of the best defensive records so maybe
    we expected too much. I still think Fortune and
    Simpson will net a few can we keep em out ?

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  25. 25
    TERRY ROMEO BAGGIE

    GOOD MORNING ALL, how we feeling on this bright febuary tuesday morning,aye boing boing donk

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  26. 26
    TERRY ROMEO BAGGIE

    In his analysis steve madeley says almost 1,000 baggiz fans headed to fulham,well on friday 19th it stated on the albion website that albion had sold over 1,600 tickets, i cant believe that over 600 fans brought tickets and failed to bother going,(might do next wik)well steve id just like to assure you there where nearer 2,000 than 1,000 baggiz faithful that made the journey,thank you.aye boing boing TONY MOWBURYS BARMY ARMY

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  27. 27
    TERRY ROMEO BAGGIE

    now ive got that off my chest i will go n cook me a bercen n negg sarnie on worburtons finest crusty bread,aye boing boing pass the ketchup cock

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