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Smells like team spirit to Craig Gardner

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Midfielder Craig Gardner hailed Saturday's Crystal Palace fightback as proof of West Brom's new never-say-die spirit.

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The Baggies came back from two down at the break to claim a 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns.

Gardner, who was one of several new arrivals at the club in the summer, felt the result was testament to the character present in Alan Irvine's side, whom he claims are ready to battle for every point in the Premier League.

He said: "It was disappointing to go 2-0 down before half-time but all credit to the lads and the gaffer for turning it around and showing the character that we have in the team now to get a result.

"We never gave up, we could have folded and sat back and let them win the game but that is not us.

"They sat back and never pushed on thinking it would be an easy second half for them but that is not West Bromwich Albion anymore.

"We are a team that want to come out and put you under pressure all the time."

Palace led at the break through goals from Brede Hangeland and a Mile Jedinak penalty, but Albion hit back through Victor Anichebe and a last-gasp Saido Berahino spot-kick.

Anichebe drew praise for the way he impacted the game following his arrival as a half-time substitute and Gardner believes the goal, the striker's first of the campaign, will give him great confidence.

"I thought Vic was brilliant," said Gardner. "When he is fully fit he is a handful and he will cause any defender problems. We have come back and got a good result in the end."

Albion's poor first half showing drew an angry response from head coach Irvine, who revealed the players saw his "Glasgow temper" during the half-time interval.

When asked about what was said in the dressing room, Irvine replied: "It was pretty full on, there's no point in throwing anything around – they (the players) are all bigger than me anyway!

"But I have a Glaswegian temper – I have grown up in area where it comes out from time to time. It's not something you can use often but I felt it was needed at half-time."

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