Express & Star

Slaven Bilic: It’s time for West Brom to finish the job

Head coach Slaven Bilic has told Albion’s players to finish the job and secure the promotion they deserve when they face QPR tonight.

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Slaven Bilic (AMA)

A 46-game season will boil down to just 90 minutes this evening with the Baggies knowing a win will see them secure a return to the Premier League.

Albion struggled to cope with the pressure in their previous outing and were beaten at Huddersfield.

Now, though they are just one game away for achieving their season’s goal.

And Bilic has told his players to forget what happened in Yorkshire and instead focus on the outstanding football they have played throughout the 2019/20 campaign.

“Forget about Friday, it’s about tonight,” he said.

“We’re at home. It’s a late-night game.

“Come up, come out. Show mentality, show intensity, everyone together and let’s finish the job.

“We are privileged. We’ve got a great opportunity.

“I am extremely proud of what we have done this season.

“But we don’t have to hide from the fact the whole season is now 90 minutes.

“We have to embrace it. Simply we have to.

“Are we good? Yes, we are good. Are we ready? Yes, we are ready.

“The reason for being optimistic for being positive is our players – for the 45 games we have played so far - they have had mostly great performances, performances with style.

“But also at the same time, they have been very compact. That is making me very optimistic.”

Albion’s promotion hopes are back in their own hands because Brentford lost to Stoke on Saturday.

And Bilic believes his players learnt a crucial lesson following their defeat at Huddersfield.

“We don’t want to feel like that again,” he added.

“Players are people. You can’t tell them not to feel pressure – of course, they feel pressure.

“But I am telling them what is the best way for them to feel less pressure.

“That is by being front footed, by being brave and by doing what got us in this situation - playing football.

“We are damn good at that.

“We should be proud of what we have done so far – the whole West Bromwich Albion thing.

“Now is the time to finish it off.”