Slaven Bilic tells West Brom there's no need for nerves
Boss Slaven Bilic feels Albion’s nerves of steel are the reason they are this season’s comeback kings.
The Baggies have earned a staggering 20 points from losing positions in Championship fixtures this season, eight more than nearest rivals Queens Park Rangers.
Having fallen behind in 11 of their 22 league encounters, Bilic’s battlers have won five and drawn five.
While preferring not leave themselves a mountain to climb, the Croatian manager admitted the sense of ‘deja vu’ that comes with his side trailing has helped his players handle the situation.
“It’s a tough one. Lately, it hasn’t happened as much. It was very often in the beginning like Luton, like Derby, like Fulham,” said Bilic, whose side welcome in-form fourth-placed Brentford to The Hawthorns on Saturday.
“Recently it is not that often – we are taking the lead and I’d always rather it is that way, of course than to be losing.
“But that is what I said, it is difficult to come back. Sometimes you need luck, sometimes you can concede.
“They had free-kicks, sometimes you can concede, if it goes to 3-1, maybe it becomes 4-1.
“But when you have deja vu, when you believe when you have done it before you don’t become that nervous.”
Albion’s latest comeback mission was completed in memorable style at St Andrew’s last weekend.
Substitute Charlie Austin led the charge as his eight-minute double silenced the Blues, who had twice led through Lukas Jutkiewicz and Harlee Dean.
The Hawthorns chief explained that Albion are programmed to relax and continue playing their brand of football in the face of adversity.
Bilic continued: “We told the guys, when Charlie was coming on, we still have 25 minutes to go plus added – that’s half an hour. It’s not just five minutes when you have to play long balls and whatever happens. No.
“That belief comes from the recent games. Especially the ones from the beginning.
“You have confidence, you have belief, you don’t have to rush. Just play your football.
“That is what we are keeping at the moment and this game will help with that.”
Both of Birmingham’s goals in the rollercoaster clash came from corners, with Albion unconvincing in dealing with the ball lofted into their box, much to their boss’s disappointment.
“All I am saying is, you can’t concede from there, but to be fair we have also scored some goals from set-plays,” he added.
“We can score, but we can’t concede – you can’t have it both ways, but we want it to be like that.
“We can’t concede two goals – if you do that in derby games, away, it’s very difficult to win the game when you are twice behind against a team that is battling and who has got somebody up front who can not only keep the ball but cause problems as well.”
