Express & Star

Alan Irvine gives Jonas Olsson his backing

Published
Last updated

West Brom boss Alan Irvine today leapt to the defence of Jonas Olsson and urged fans not to judge the Swede on his recent high-profile errors.

more

Olsson has been at fault for two early goals in as many games against Swansea and Everton.

But Irvine insists the 31-year-old should be judged on his entire Hawthorns career.

The Scot said: "I'd like to think that Jonas's career would be judged over a long period rather than a couple of games.

"Before I got here he was a player that I admired, a player I always thought played well whenever we were against West Brom.

"He's an international player, he's played hundreds of games and he's played really well without making mistakes.

"I don't think we can necessarily look at two mistakes in two games as being the start of a worrying trend."

Olsson's slip against Swansea handed Nathan Dyer a second-minute goal at the Liberty Stadium before his poor clearance presented Romelu Lukaku with a goal, also in the second minute, in the home defeat by the Toffees.

A second-half error by Ben Foster then gave Kevin Mirallas Everton's second goal, but Irvine also backed his England international goalkeeper to put the mistake behind him.

"He came in and immediately apologised to everybody," said Irvine, who takes his side to Tottenham on Sunday (1.30pm).

"It's a mistake that you don't see him making and you wouldn't expect to see him making for another 100 games, so it's one of those things.

"It was terrible timing for us, it made it extremely difficult for us to get back into the game and he knows that.

"But I can't go slamming Ben Foster for making a mistake, because we all make them. He made good saves after that."