Alan Irvine defends his West Brom changes

Boss Alan Irvine defended his team selection after West Brom were put out of the Capital One Cup with defeat at Bournemouth.

Callum Wilson's winner three minutes from time claimed a 2-1 win for the hosts and sent the Baggies out at the fourth-round stage.

Like Cherries boss Eddie Howe, Irvine made 10 changes to his starting line-up but insisted the team he put out would have been good enough to win the game had they played to their potential.

"It was a team full of first-team players," said the head coach.

"A team who train as a first team every day and it was an opportunity for them.

"They need to grab those opportunities and they need to get the benefit of the game as well. We have a squad of players who are all Premier League players, they are all players who play at a higher level and are internationals.

"It wasn't a team of kids, it was a team that if they played to their best of ability should have been able to get a result.

"A number of our players who have played in Premier League games recently openly said they were feeling the effects of recent games."

Irvine admitted some players missed the chance to stake a claim for a Premier League start, adding:

"It was an opportunity for a number of our players who have been desperate for a game to go out and play well and show me they should be in contention for the Premier League games.

"They missed a chance. Some of them played well to be considered but not enough of them."

On conceding so soon after levelling, Irvine said: "It's extremely disappointing. But Boaz (Myhill) came in after and admitted he could have done better.

"He's an honest pro and I'm not blaming him by any means."