Albion’s FA Cup fourth round opponents were decided last night when Arsenal beat Swansea City at the Emirates, but Gus Poyet has reminded his players not to lose focus on Saturday’s Championship game at Birmingham City.
The Blues have slipped to 20th in the table after recording just one win in nine games but the Albion boss is adamant that Lee Clark’s squad have enough quality to turn their fortunes around if the Seagulls are not on their game.
Poyet told seagulls.co.uk, “It will be very, very difficult. The Cup game will be very nice for the fans but I will tell you what I think after this game. It can be a good day but if I don’t win these two Championship games before the FA Cup game I will not be able to enjoy the day, so we’ll have to see.
“We have got to focus on Birmingham. They have been better away from home but they need points because they are slowly dropping down the league. They have plenty of experience and if they click they could be like any team at the top of the Championship. Our job is to make sure they do not click this Saturday.
“We have been very good away if you look at the numbers and we need that to continue. To do that we need to do what we do best and control the game.”
Albion could have Argentinean striker Leonardo Ulloa available to make his debut on Saturday if he receives international clearance in time, and Poyet has explained the unusual situation he was in before making the signing, having to wait for the player to gain a Spanish passport.
“As soon as we lost Glenn Murray in 2011 and we didn’t bring back Chris Wood, we were looking for this kind of player, and someone that will be a part of this football club for four or five years. We got a few loans in during that time but they didn’t work.
“It was a strange feeling because we knew we had a great chance to get Leo but at the same time it was not in our hands; it was in the hands of the Home Office in Spain to get his passport. It was an interesting few weeks but we are delighted to have him here. I’m sure that he will fit in very well.”
Original article
The Blues have slipped to 20th in the table after recording just one win in nine games but the Albion boss is adamant that Lee Clark’s squad have enough quality to turn their fortunes around if the Seagulls are not on their game.
Poyet told seagulls.co.uk, “It will be very, very difficult. The Cup game will be very nice for the fans but I will tell you what I think after this game. It can be a good day but if I don’t win these two Championship games before the FA Cup game I will not be able to enjoy the day, so we’ll have to see.
“We have got to focus on Birmingham. They have been better away from home but they need points because they are slowly dropping down the league. They have plenty of experience and if they click they could be like any team at the top of the Championship. Our job is to make sure they do not click this Saturday.
“We have been very good away if you look at the numbers and we need that to continue. To do that we need to do what we do best and control the game.”
Albion could have Argentinean striker Leonardo Ulloa available to make his debut on Saturday if he receives international clearance in time, and Poyet has explained the unusual situation he was in before making the signing, having to wait for the player to gain a Spanish passport.
“As soon as we lost Glenn Murray in 2011 and we didn’t bring back Chris Wood, we were looking for this kind of player, and someone that will be a part of this football club for four or five years. We got a few loans in during that time but they didn’t work.
“It was a strange feeling because we knew we had a great chance to get Leo but at the same time it was not in our hands; it was in the hands of the Home Office in Spain to get his passport. It was an interesting few weeks but we are delighted to have him here. I’m sure that he will fit in very well.”
Original article