MOORE’S MERRIER
A Villa ..... 0 W Brom ..... 2 Darren delighted with massive win on road
LADY LUCK has smiled on Darren Moore this season – but there was no disputing the merit of this derby victory.
The rookie boss has profited after goals following disputed handball decisions and blatant dives.
Only last week Dwight Gayle earned the Baggies a penalty in dubious circumstances against Nottingham Forest.
But there was no hint of skulduggery as Dean Smith’s dismal new year at Villa Park brought the same old story.
Two goals late in the first half – the first a looping header from Hal Robson-Kanu, the second a lovely 25-yard drive by the revitalised Jay Rodriguez – lifted Baggies’ spirits and left an exasperated home boss in desperate need of answers.
West Brom retreated after the interval but Villa – comeback specialists on their own patch against Hull City and Sheffield United in recent weeks – were unable to gain any momentum.
This is the first time since 2002 – when Moore himself was part of West Brom’s rearguard – that the club has recorded four successive shutouts.
And it was that more than anything which pleased the visitors’ chief.
He said: “To get any three points on the road in this division is rewarding. It was a joint effort by everyone. The hard work, commitment and desire shown by the players was excellent.
“Our work off-the-ball had to be good because Villa ask questions. They came back against Hull and Sheffield United. They are resilient.
“They have a never-say-die spirit so it had to be a team effort by us. We had to be equally strong and resilient.”
Moore played down the effect of Gayle’s absence after he was nailed by the FA for deceiving a match official and suspended for this fixture.
He added: “Losing him today wasn’t anything we haven’t coped with so far. We have worked and won without him – although he is important. But we won’t cry over spilt milk. We will accept it and move on.”
Villa are nose-diving at a rate of knots, with only one win in front of their own fans since the 4-2 triumph over neighbours Birmingham City in November.
A lengthy injury list is not helping matters, with the absence of playmaker Jack Grealish costing them dear.
And on this evidence, it will need a remarkable turnaround with 13 games left to reach the play-offs.
Smith said: “All we can do is go and try and win the next game. We don’t do ourselves any favours with the goals we have given away. The game was there for us if we had wanted.”
As for the Grealish injury, Smith said it is not an issue for him but he hopes to have the player back for next week’s trip to Stoke.
“People will say it has an effect,” added Villa’s boss. “For me, our dip in performances have been since the FA Cup.”
That’s as may be. But Villa are still seeking answers as West Brom found theirs. With not a whiff of controversy about it.