[h=3]Competition for places excites Poyet[/h] 9:30am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Albion By Andy Naylor
A fit-again Gordon Greer faces a fight to get back into the Albion defence due to the fom of Matthew Upson
Albion boss Gus Poyet is relishing the fight for places at the heart of his team’s Championship promotion challenge and the battle facing captain Gordon Greer.
The fit-again skipper now has Matt Upson blocking his route back into the side – and the manager is loving it.
Upson, pictured right, was signed on loan from Stoke for the rest of the season at the end of the January transfer window after Greer tore a hamstring in the FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.
Greer was available for Saturday’s visit of Burnley but had to settle for a place on the bench as Upson and Adam El-Abd helped Albion to a third win and third clean sheet in five matches since the arrival of the former England centre-half.
Greer was only brought on in the closing stages at the expense of Vicente.
Poyet said: “You know how much I think about GG and there is a reason not to play him. We have been in situations where we’ve had to defend a lot and Matt in the air is very strong, he’s very clever, he knows the game.
“He’s been playing against top class players, so it should be a little bit easier here. That is the reason why Gordon didn’t play, so there’s a nice fight in there. I like it, I love it.”
Greer’s comeback to the starting line-up could be delayed until El-Abd collects his tenth booking and accompanying two-match ban.
Huddersfield play at Burnley tonight prior to Saturday’s visit to The Amex. The Yorkshiremen, now managed by Mark Robins, are currently three points and two places above the relegation zone.
Leicester, the side immediately above the sixth-placed Seagulls, will stretch their cushion over Poyet’s contenders to five points if they win their game in hand at home to Blackburn Rovers tonight.
Dicker*looks on the bright side despite*an uncertain future at Albion - in The Argus today
Original article
Albion boss Gus Poyet is relishing the fight for places at the heart of his team’s Championship promotion challenge and the battle facing captain Gordon Greer.
The fit-again skipper now has Matt Upson blocking his route back into the side – and the manager is loving it.
Upson, pictured right, was signed on loan from Stoke for the rest of the season at the end of the January transfer window after Greer tore a hamstring in the FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.
Greer was available for Saturday’s visit of Burnley but had to settle for a place on the bench as Upson and Adam El-Abd helped Albion to a third win and third clean sheet in five matches since the arrival of the former England centre-half.
Greer was only brought on in the closing stages at the expense of Vicente.
Poyet said: “You know how much I think about GG and there is a reason not to play him. We have been in situations where we’ve had to defend a lot and Matt in the air is very strong, he’s very clever, he knows the game.
“He’s been playing against top class players, so it should be a little bit easier here. That is the reason why Gordon didn’t play, so there’s a nice fight in there. I like it, I love it.”
Greer’s comeback to the starting line-up could be delayed until El-Abd collects his tenth booking and accompanying two-match ban.
Huddersfield play at Burnley tonight prior to Saturday’s visit to The Amex. The Yorkshiremen, now managed by Mark Robins, are currently three points and two places above the relegation zone.
Leicester, the side immediately above the sixth-placed Seagulls, will stretch their cushion over Poyet’s contenders to five points if they win their game in hand at home to Blackburn Rovers tonight.
Dicker*looks on the bright side despite*an uncertain future at Albion - in The Argus today
Original article