We played for pride – Greening

Monday 25th May 2009, 10:30AM BST.

Jonathan GreeningCaptain Jonathan Greening believes Albion reclaimed more pride as they bowed out of the Premier League with another impressive performance.

The Baggies skipper reckons the club said farewell to the top-flight for at least a season with another statement to their rivals as the home side said goodbye to veteran midfielder Tugay with tribute masks and away fans made a similar gesture for manager Tony Mowbray.

Each of the 3,000 travelling supporters were handed a mask as they went through the turnstile at Ewood Park.

“It was always going to be a difficult game because we were relegated already,” said Greening.

“The atmosphere for Tugay was good so we just tried to dictate the tempo on a hot day.

“I had a good chance at the end, Chris Brunt had a volley which produced a great save and we should have won it really.

“There was nothing for us to play for other than pride but I thought we showed a lot of people that we are good enough to play Premier League football and showed what a good team we are.

“I loved the masks. It was good.

“We had ‘SuperKev’ (for Kevin Phillips) in the last game last year and now this.

“I signed a few of the gaffers’ masks outside but I had to make sure it wasn’t the real thing – I don’t think he’d let me do that!”

The game’s main talking point was the red card shown to former Albion striker Jason Roberts in the second half.

The Blackburn forward was dismissed for allegedly striking Baggies defender Jonas Olsson but Greening admitted his own surprise.

“Jonas said he got elbowed a few times but he thought it was a bit harsh really,” said former Middlesbrough and Manchester united midfielder Greening.

“It was a strange one but the referee saw it and he sent Jason off.”



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.