Assistant head coach Nathan Jones confessed Albion took a late risk in a bid to to take maximum points at Doncaster Rovers today.The Seagulls looked destined to a third straight draw but Oscar Garcia sent on Leroy Lita in a positive late change, even though the momentum was with the home side after their late equaliser.
The move paid off, with Lita netting a crucial first Albion goal, and Jones told seagulls.co.uk, “We wanted three points today, we needed them to stay in touch with the Championship pacesetters, so we took a calculated gamble and it worked well.
“In the first half we played well and got into enough good positions but just lacked that final ball, but we controlled the game and Jake scored a great goal so credit to him.
“We tried to capitalise on that in the second half but it wasn’t to be and Doncaster came out, grafted and got their goal.
“We decided to go for it and we did, we changed our shape which we don’t normally do and got a big three points. What we are most pleased with is the character we showed.”
Jones also felt that the win was what Albion’s performance merited but says the side have been rewarded with less for better displays this season.
“We deserved the win, it was difficult, but we have played much better than that this season and lost or drawn.
“The score flattered us, but we deserved it on the first-half performance alone and we finished really strongly.
“We are not around the corner yet but it has been a good week, we had two good draws in a row and we have come here to a difficult place and played in a proper game today.”
The Welshman admitted that the win keeps the side in touch with the play-off pack, and that is the key objective while injured players recover.
“We're fighting to stay in touch with the teams at the top ready for when we get the majority of the players back.
“We are having to ride the punches with the injuries, nothing is easy and we have another injury today with Buckley.
“He has tweaked hamstring, so we'll have to wait but Bruno willl be okay. He has bit of concussion but it's not too bad.”
Meanwhile Jones was glad to see Lita find the back of the net despite the striker still searching for full fitness.
“He has had to be patient, he is champing at the bit and angry at times because he isn’t starting, but we need him to reach the level where he can play 90 minutes.
We know he can score goals because of his record and today he came on at the right time, had his opportunity and scored.
“That is what he does in the box, he is single minded in that kind of way so we are pleased he has got that goal.”
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The move paid off, with Lita netting a crucial first Albion goal, and Jones told seagulls.co.uk, “We wanted three points today, we needed them to stay in touch with the Championship pacesetters, so we took a calculated gamble and it worked well.
“In the first half we played well and got into enough good positions but just lacked that final ball, but we controlled the game and Jake scored a great goal so credit to him.
“We tried to capitalise on that in the second half but it wasn’t to be and Doncaster came out, grafted and got their goal.
“We decided to go for it and we did, we changed our shape which we don’t normally do and got a big three points. What we are most pleased with is the character we showed.”
Jones also felt that the win was what Albion’s performance merited but says the side have been rewarded with less for better displays this season.
“We deserved the win, it was difficult, but we have played much better than that this season and lost or drawn.
“The score flattered us, but we deserved it on the first-half performance alone and we finished really strongly.
“We are not around the corner yet but it has been a good week, we had two good draws in a row and we have come here to a difficult place and played in a proper game today.”
The Welshman admitted that the win keeps the side in touch with the play-off pack, and that is the key objective while injured players recover.
“We're fighting to stay in touch with the teams at the top ready for when we get the majority of the players back.
“We are having to ride the punches with the injuries, nothing is easy and we have another injury today with Buckley.
“He has tweaked hamstring, so we'll have to wait but Bruno willl be okay. He has bit of concussion but it's not too bad.”
Meanwhile Jones was glad to see Lita find the back of the net despite the striker still searching for full fitness.
“He has had to be patient, he is champing at the bit and angry at times because he isn’t starting, but we need him to reach the level where he can play 90 minutes.
We know he can score goals because of his record and today he came on at the right time, had his opportunity and scored.
“That is what he does in the box, he is single minded in that kind of way so we are pleased he has got that goal.”
Original article