Baggies turn up heat on rivals

Albion boss Tony Mowbray today hailed victory at Plymouth as a statement of intent to all of the Baggies' promotion rivals.

Mowbray's side closed the gap on leaders Watford to two points at the top of The Championship having begun November nine points adrift of the Hornets.

And, with Albion's victory at Home Park following defeats for Watford and Charlton on Tuesday, Mowbray believes last night's would have made the division sit up and take notice.

"The players recognised that and we spoke about the other results," said Mowbray. "It was important to send a message to the division last night."I'm sure teams would have been sitting at home watching the Champions League with half an eye on the vidiprinter watching results come in from Molineux and Plymouth.

"It's important to keep winning and keep pushing on and make sure you don't take your foot off the gas.

"I'm delighted we managed to get the three points last night because a lot of teams will go to Plymouth and find out very difficult."

Mowbray saw Czech striker Roman Bednar mark his full Baggies debut with both goals in the 2-1 victory over the Pilgrims, going some way to allaying fears over a lack of goals following injuries to key forwards Kevin Phillips and Ishmael Miller.

And the Baggies boss reckons the strength of his squad is starting to tell.

Mowbray said: "We talked in the summer and we said it is about the strength of your squad. Sometimes players who don't play can be seen by supporters at times as failures or bad buys.

"But if the people in the team are doing the business the others have just got to wait for their chance.

"He has waited patiently and when his opportunity has come he has taken it with both hands."He has done exceptionally well and that is the strength of the squad.

"We have seen Leon Barnett coming in for Martin Albrechtsen, who is out for four-six weeks.

"Your team has got to have people who are able to cover for injuries and suspensions."

Albion match-winner Roman Bednar today revealed he has set his sights on turning his loan move to The Hawthorns into a permanent stay.

The Czech forward is with the Baggies on a season-long loan from Hearts. But the 24-year-old is keen to persuade Albion to active a clause in the transfer allowing the deal to become permanent.