Chris Baird blames players for Albion loss

Defender Chris Baird today blamed West Brom's players for their Capital One Cup pain – shifting the focus from boss Alan Irvine.

Irvine made 10 changes for the 2-1 defeat at Championship side Bournemouth on Tuesday, as the head coach gave his fringe players a run-out.

And although it was all-but the same line-up which beat Premier League Hull City in the previous round, a below-par performance triggered plenty of frustration as the Baggies missed out on an appearance in the last eight of the tournament.

Baird hadn't played for Albion since the first round win over Oxford on August 26 and the Northern Ireland international feels the club have little choice but to give the back-up players a run-out.

He said: "Every club changes selection. We need games and it's the perfect chance to show what we can do.

"It's important for us to keep up our fitness so when we're needed in the Premier League we can step up. Every team does it; we're not the only one.

"It's just that it didn't work out and we're very disappointed by that.

"The performance wasn't good enough and it was particularly disappointing to throw it away just 10 seconds after equalising.

"We gave the ball away twice, especially in conceding the first goal, but to give away the goal as we did again was a big disappointment for us.

"It's said when you score you are never more vulnerable and we proved that point."

The former Fulham defender added: "We wanted a good Cup run and thought we could progress but we have to give credit to Bournemouth who played really well and took their chances.

"We can't change anything now. But most of us haven't been playing and I think that was a major factor.

"What's important now is the Premier League and you hope playing on Tuesday night will help some of the lads be ready to step up for that when they're needed."