Roberts surprised by penalty

Albion old-boy Jason Roberts was as confused as anyone when he won Blackburn their controversial penalty on his return to The Hawthorns.

The former Baggies man delivered an honest verdict on the 12th-minute spot kick awarded for a tug on his shirt by defender Ryan Donk and admitted: "I didn't expect to get it."

"I thought initially the referee had given a free-kick against me but the guy definitely pulled my shirt," said Roberts.

"You don't normally get those given against you to be honest and I didn't expect to get it but if you see the replay then, yes, he did pull my shirt.

"It was a tough one for the referee I guess."

Roberts received muted boos on his return to The Hawthorns, where he left after falling out with former boss Gary Megson.

But he delivered a heartfelt endorsement of the Baggies' chances.

"I want to say something which I've wanted to for some time and was thinking about on the journey down there," said Roberts.

"I never really had a chance to tell the people, the fans, what I thought about the place.

"Although I fell out with the manager I never really got a chance to say what I felt so I'm delighted to see Albion in the Premier League.

"It's a great club with good people. My uncle (Cyrille Regis) remains highly thought of here and it's a place of tradition.

"I've got very fond memories of this club and I never really had a chance to get my sentiments over about what I felt about this football club. I wish them all the best.

"They have a good chance of survival. You can see by how they play football – they are a Premiership club and have some really good players.

"It was a tough game. when Albion get the ball down they are a really good side.

"They really imposed themselves in the first 15 or 20 minutes and for periods in the second half looked like a top team.

"When they got their second goal we started to get back into the game and impose ourselves on them a bit more.

"We felt we could win when we scored so late."

And Roberts was also full of praise for one of his successors – Baggies goalscorer Ishmael Miller.

"I think he's powerful, a goalscorer and a man who has a lot to his game," said Roberts.

"He will go from strength to strength. He's got a lot about him and put us under a lot of pressure.

"There's no doubt he's got a big future in the game.

"He is making a name for himself and if he keeps doing what he's been doing for 18 months then he'll maintain that."