WATCH: Chris Brunt says big thank you to Baggies fans
Chris Brunt has said thank you to the West Brom fans who have rallied around him and asked them to focus their energy on supporting the team against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
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The 31-year-old left-back was struck in the face by a coin thrown from the Albion end after the final whistle of last weekend's FA Cup defeat at Reading.
It was an incident that nearly blinded Brunt – a former club captain with more than 300 appearances at the club – and horrified Baggies supporters.
Distancing themselves from the yob who chucked the coin, fans have organised a bucket collection outside The Hawthorns before tomorrow's home game with Crystal Palace with all proceeds going to a charity of Brunt's choosing.
A separate group of fans have also paid for a huge banner that reads 'BRUNTY ONE OF US' to be unfurled in the Smethwick End in the first half and the Birmingham Road End in the second half.
"The support I've had from the fans has been great," said Brunt."I didn't expect anything.
"As I said at the time, one person spoils it for a lot of people.
"I appreciate that 99.9% of football fans would never like to see that. It's done now, it's over.
"We just want to move on from it.
"Come Saturday I think the support needs to be focussed on the team and for us to try and make up for the result at Reading last week and for us to try and get three points again.
"It seems a long time ago we beat Everton 1-0 which was a great result, it would be nice to back that up in the league.
"I know that the majority of West Brom fans are behind me and behind the team every week."
Supporters have already raised a total of nearly £1,400 online and Brunt revealed that he wants the money raised to go to the club's own Albion Foundation and Acorns Children's Hospice.
Brunt was hit near the eye by a coin when he went over to thank the fans for making the trip to Reading, but it's not something he's going to stop anytime soon.
"You've got to appreciate the support because at the end of the day if you came to the games and played in empty stadiums it wouldn't be much fun," said Brunt. "It wouldn't be much entertainment for anybody.
"Everybody appreciates the support we have on bad days and good days.
"It's a lot easier to accept praise and positive stuff than it is to accept criticism but that's just part and parcel of your job, you've got to just roll with that.
"Some days things are going to go well for you, and some days things aren't.
"Saturday was one of those bad days but you've always got to appreciate the people for turning up and supporting you because if you don't they might not come back next week and playing in empty stadiums wouldn't be much fun."
Thames Valley Police have arrested a man in connection with a coin-throwing incident at the Madejski Stadium.
