No egos in Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle's 'healthy' partnership
Jay Rodriguez says the key to his lethal partnership with Dwight Gayle is selflessness.
The Baggies duo cemented their place as the Championship’s most potent strike force on Saturday when both netted in the 3-2 win at Preston.
Rodriguez already has seven goals to his name this season while Gayle is just behind on six, but the pair do not have any ongoing competition with each other.
While most strikers are notoriously selfish, Rodriguez insists he and Gayle are the opposite.
“One of us is happy if the other lad scores,” he said. “If I score he’s happy and vice-versa.
“That’s a really important thing – everyone in the team is wanting one thing – to get three points at the end of the game. That’s why it’s so healthy.”
Rodriguez’s own tally has benefited directly from Gayle, who has won four penalties for his strike partner already. And he confirmed the pair were friends off the pitch too.
“As lads we get on really well together,” he said. “Away from football we are close and I think that’s really important.
“On and off the field it’s good. We’ve got Hal Robson-Kanu as well, it’s a great three. We’re pushing each other and keeping each other sharp.”
Rodriguez broke the deadlock at Deepdale when he made a sharp run to get in front of his man before heading home, but he admitted afterwards: “I think it came a little bit off my shoulder! I headed it first and then on to my shoulder.”
After the game, he gave his shirt to a young boy who had come to the match with a sign asking for it. He was one of 3,200 Baggies who packed out the away end in Preston.
“The turn-out we had was fantastic and the atmosphere they created was really good,” added Rodriguez. “It is really important to hear your fans pushing you on.”
Those fans were cheering their team to the top of the table, and the Baggies have adjusted to life in the Championship quicker than the two other relegated teams.
“All the lads are grounded,” explained Rodriguez. “I think we know how tough the Championship is. Every game is tough.
“We know about all the teams, but we can only affect what we can do which is to work at 100% and work at the tactics.
“If we keep doing that it will put us in good stead.”
And despite going top, Rodriguez said the dressing room wasn’t completely happy after conceding a sloppy late goal at Deepdale.
“It’s a bit mixed really,” he said. “We’re happy to get the result, but we’re disappointed to concede two.
“We can take positives from that and now we focus on the game midweek.”
