In Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Championship play-off rivals Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion manager Valerien Ismael has today eased the instant expectation on new signing Daryl Dike and has pressed his team for a ruthless performance.
Without a win in three League matches, the Baggies have failed to capitalise on the poor form of the top two in the division, and Ismael is focused for the win against tomorrows hosts QPR, before thinking about the positive change in away form.
“We have to win the first game. It is not about consistency, QPR is the chance to win, the focus is clear for us, and what we have to do. We have thoughts from the bench with more possibility and more impact, it will give us a good feeling to go into the game.”
Traveling to Loftus Road tomorrow, QPR sit one place, and one point behind Ismael’s side. Without a win in three, the Albion have missed their chance to capitalise on the top two’s poor form.
One point in the last three league matches have seen a slip to fourth, behind Blackburn Rovers, and now only three points clear of Middlesbrough in seventh. Despite this, Ismael is not yet looking at the table, and with most of the postponed matches to be played before the international break, the 46-year-old will not pay attention till then.
“We don’t watch the table, the picture will change, the schedule means everything will chance until the international break.”
Earlier in the season, West Bromwich Albion came from behind to win 2-1 at The Hawthornes against tomorrows opponents. Karlan Grant scored twice in the last 15 minutes of the game after falling behind in the first minute to Andre Grey’s strike.
“Every game is a chance to continue, it is important to put the reformate, to be very focused on the task with QPR, we saw in the game earlier tin the season it’s a difficult one, we need to be prepared from the first minute.”
Despite having an embarrassment of riches in the attacking department, the Baggies have fallen short in front of goal. But hopes of the reunion between Ismael and new boy Daryl Dike will push the team onto promotion.
He scored nine goals in 19 Championship appearances for Barnsley last season during his four-month spell at Oakwell as he helped the Tykes reach the play-off semi-finals.
“It Is clear what our problems, and Dike has come in as a number 9, to score goals and everyone is happy”
“We need to build him up, and not to rush… we have the plan, he is on the way, he is on the road, after two weeks we will have the next step of the game”
“Hold expectation with the medical staff and with Dike, we need to stay calm and step by step we will have the feeling. We need to do the right thing and we to continue to do the right thing to give him a good feeling to go and attack the game and when Dike is 100% it will be a good situation for us”
