Albion boss pleased despite defeat

Albion boss Roy Hodgson praised his players despite a freak San Jose Earthquakes goal setting the Baggies on course for defeat in the first match of their American tour.

Albion boss Roy Hodgson praised his players despite a freak San Jose Earthquakes goal setting the Baggies on course for defeat in the opening match of their American tour.

Quakes goalkeeper David Bingham left opposite number Boaz Myhill red-faced by scoring from the edge of his own box with a clearance that bounced over the Albion custodian.

Jerome Thomas struck a fine solo goal for Hodgson's men but only after Khari Stephenson had doubled the hosts' lead just before the break, condemning the visitors to defeat.

But Hodgson leapt to Myhill's defence and praised his players' display at the Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara.

The head coach said: "The game was very useful. We lost it to a freak goal in the third minute.

"The goalkeeper's kick-out had the most ludicrous bounce I have seen in a long while and went straight into the goal. You don't see those sorts of goals very often.

"But the players did well to recover from that and approaching half-time we were looking quite good.

"Then we conceded a second goal from a long shot, which was disappointing, but in the second-half we gave good effort again.

"I was very pleased with the shape of the team and the way we played, the result is a bit disappointing but, after one week of training, the result was the least important thing on my mind.

"It was about having no injuries, getting a good fitness workout and showing that we are already retaining some of what we had last year.

"To have a chance of saving the goal, Boaz would have had to be standing on the goalline, which you don't do.

"Their goalkeeper was kicking the ball out and, when that happens, your goalkeeper is always likely to be more on the penalty spot than the goalline.

"He would have had no chance. It was just the bounce of the ball."

[24link]