[h=3]Play-off countdown: Poyet keen for Albion to strike first blow[/h]3:00pm Friday 10th May 2013 in Albion By Andy Naylor
Gus Poyet knows an early Albion goal will boost confidence
ALBION boss Gus Poyet has urged his promotion chasers to capitalise on their form advantage over Crystal Palace by landing the first blow at Selhurst Park tonight.
The Seagulls have not lost a game after scoring first since a 3-1 defeat at Blackpool 14 months ago.
But they have not won from 1-0 down since victory in the first ever game at The Amex against Doncaster Rovers in August 2011.
Albion go into the semi-final first leg against their arch-rivals on a nine-match unbeaten run.
Palace, meanwhile, stumbled into the play-offs with their only win in ten matches on the final day at home to relegated Peterborough.
Poyet believes that sharp contrast could be significant if Albion get their noses in front.
He said: “If you score first and start the game well I think it does help, as you are in the kind of feeling that you are in good form.
“Then it depends how the game goes. It will be easier to play this game with the famous word I don’t like – confidence. “We always blame people for not having confidence when things go bad but now we should say it will be easier as we are confident.”
Original article
ALBION boss Gus Poyet has urged his promotion chasers to capitalise on their form advantage over Crystal Palace by landing the first blow at Selhurst Park tonight.
The Seagulls have not lost a game after scoring first since a 3-1 defeat at Blackpool 14 months ago.
But they have not won from 1-0 down since victory in the first ever game at The Amex against Doncaster Rovers in August 2011.
Albion go into the semi-final first leg against their arch-rivals on a nine-match unbeaten run.
Palace, meanwhile, stumbled into the play-offs with their only win in ten matches on the final day at home to relegated Peterborough.
Poyet believes that sharp contrast could be significant if Albion get their noses in front.
He said: “If you score first and start the game well I think it does help, as you are in the kind of feeling that you are in good form.
“Then it depends how the game goes. It will be easier to play this game with the famous word I don’t like – confidence. “We always blame people for not having confidence when things go bad but now we should say it will be easier as we are confident.”
Original article