Express & Star

Darren Moore: Horses for courses at West Brom

Darren Moore has refused to commit himself to the direct style he beat Leeds with – saying he will take a ‘horses for courses’ approach throughout the season.

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Darren Moore (AMA)

The Baggies boss enjoyed huge success last weekend by switching to a 4-3-3 formation and getting the ball forward quickly.

Moore had previously played possession-based football this season, but Albion beat Marcelo Bielsa’s team 4-1 despite having just 28 per cent of the ball. However, Albion’s boss says he will not necessarily replicate that style from now on, and will chop and change depending on the opposition.

“You’ve got to remember Leeds set a real pace and mentality about them,” he said.

“We talk about horses for courses for games. This game was different, the next one will be different. That’s what the Championship does, it throws up all these different conundrums and hurdles. It’s about finding your way through them.

“This is part and parcel of the game, trying to come up with gameplans and systems after scrutinising the opposition.”

Albion’s players looked markedly more comfortable in a back four rather than a back three, and they carried out their instructions perfectly.

When Moore was asked how much influence they had had on the switch, he said: “I share everything with the players, as they do with me.

“That’s a really important aspect of my role at the club. In everything we try and do we share and communicate. That’s a big aspect here.”

After a week of training, Moore has given his team the weekend off for the international break before the players return on Monday to prepare for a trip to Ipswich.

He’s been enjoying the extra time on the training pitch, which has allowed him to hone both systems for the flurry of games ahead.

He added: “In terms of a group, they understand exactly the level of performance needed for this football club and we didn’t achieve those standards set in recent weeks. When we’re playing right and West Bromwich Albion are performing, we feel like we’re a threat for anybody in this division.”