Kyle Bartley: West Brom are 'big enough' to get through tough spell
Defender Kyle Bartley says it was always likely Albion would endure a spell where results were hard to come by.
But the centre-back is adamant the Baggies will get through it by sticking together – with the atmosphere inside the dressing room still positive.
Albion currently sit top of the Championship, but they are without a win in their last six league outings. That spell has seen their lead in the automatic promotion spots cut from 11 points to five.
Bartley, though, says he and his team-mates are determined to rediscover the form that saw them taste defeat just once in their opening 24 league games.
“It’s been better than you would expect,” the defender said when asked what the mood is like among the players.
“We have a lot of experience within the dressing room. We know the first 17/18 games ran as smooth as anyone could expect.
“But there was plenty of the season still to go and we knew, at some point, there would be a bit of a sticky patch where results didn’t quite go our way or performances weren’t what we expect.
“But we are big enough and old enough to know this is the time you need to stick together. It’s not the time to be pointing fingers or panicking. It’s about focusing more and working harder, and the results will come back. We won’t panic, we will stick together and we will make it better.”
Barley, who started his career at Arsenal, admits the ambition for him and all Albion’s players is to see the club in the Premier League next season.
“I think everyone who plays football, every young kid, wants to play in the Premier League,” he added.
“I think it’s the best league in the world and that is where you want to test yourself.
“On a personal level, I try and focus on every single day in training and every single game.
“I just try and perform to the best of my ability and I know if I do that on a consistent level then I’ll get myself back in the Premier League and I’ll get West Brom there too.”
