Jonny Evans: Attacking Baggies are more vulnerable

Defender Jonny Evans reckons Albion are conceding more goals now because they're trying to play attacking football.

The Baggies were inpenetrable at the start of the season, picking up five clean sheets in the opening seven games.

But Tony Pulis's side have only managed one shut-out in the last 13 matches, and they've conceded seven goals in the past three games.

What was once an airtight defence is now starting to leak goals at an alarming rate.

"Maybe it's the fact that we're having a bit more of a go," said Evans. "You can see that we're scoring more goals.

"OK, we haven't scored against Southampton but we scored two away at Chelsea from open play and I think that's always been a wee bit of a criticism of the team, that we're only waiting for set pieces.

"But I think you can see that we play a bit more on the front foot, putting teams under pressure and not sitting back as much."

Albion were visibly undone in the 3-0 defeat at Southampton on Saturday by Ronald Koeman's decision to play three at the back.

Pulis eventually mirrored their formation but by that point Albion were already 2-0 down.

"We started quite slow," admitted Evans. "I think tactically they were better than us in possession once they had control of the game.

"The fact they were playing with wing-backs and quite a lot of people outnumbering our midfield, we found it hard to get the ball."

Right-back Craig Dawson gave away a penalty 10 minutes before half-time but it looked like Saints wing-back Matt Targett jumped into him.

"I think it was a penalty from where I was, it's easy for that to happen," said Evans. "I think the boy's just got on the inside, the guy's played the ball in between Dawse and it's just a coming together. It's difficult to take as a defender but I think it's just a tangle."