Together we’ll make it through, vows Dawson
CRAIG Dawson says the players are “in it together” as West Bromwich Albion seek to end the longest winless run in the club’s 139-year history.
The frustrating Boxing Day stalemate with Everton extended the Baggies’ miserable winless sequence to 19 games in all competitions.
Not since August have they sampled the sweet taste of success – when they opened with three straight victories.
It’s now six games without a win for not-so-new manager Alan Pardew.
But Dawson, who made his first appearance for over two months against Everton, doesn’t doubt the togetherness and team spirit in the group.
“Everybody is working hard on the training pitch and the gaffer is very positive,” the defender said. “He’s got us working hard and everybody’s in it together. We all know what we need to do. We’ve got to be positive.
“Everton are a great side and we did very well against them. It’s just that one chance that needs to drop for us and hopefully we can get that.”
The 27-year-old returned to the fold after recovering from a knee injury sustained in the defeat at Southampton in October.
Dawson missed ten games in that time as well as the departure of Tony Pulis.
And he readily admits he found it difficult watching his team slide down the table as the slump worsened.
“You want to be helping the team out and you can’t,” he said. “I’m back fit and hopefully I can help the team out.
“It’s been a difficult period being out. It was my first big period without football and it’s been difficult.
“But the doc and the phyisos have worked hard on me and I’m just glad to be back.
“If we play like we did against Everton, the points will come and the win will come. We’ve just got to keep being positive.”
Dawson staked his claim to remain in the team for the New Year’s Eve visit of Arsenal as one of Albion’s best performers against Everton.
The corresponding fixture with the Gunners brought him plenty of joy last season.
The former Bolton Wanderers man scored twice in a 3-1 win over the Arsene Wenger’s men in March.
And Dawson hopes history can repeat itself as Albion search for a win that could lift them out of the bottom three. “Fingers crossed,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough game, but if we play like we did in midweek and have the fans behind us, then we will be fine.”
And Pardew believes Albion missed out on a “significant win” against Everton, which would have given the league table a more positive slant.
Salomon Rondon, Chris Brunt and Dawson missed clear-cut openings in the first half at The Hawthorns.
The profligacy continued after the break, although not to the same extent, as Albion passed up the opportunity to seize a first win under Pardew.
Victory would have allowed them to leapfrog Bournemouth, who scored an injury-time equaliser against relegation rivals West Ham United and also move to within a point of Pardew’s former clubs Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
“It’s just a shame we that win,” said Pardew.
“With the other teams would have been a really win.
“That’s what the you’ve got to keep hanging in there.
“The fans were brilliant, they stayed with us and tried to help us. We tried to help ourselves but it just wasn’t to be. I couldn’t fault the players.”
Albion clocked up 17 efforts against Everton and worked their way into many more positive situations. But the Baggies could not capitalise as they fired a fourth blank in Pardew’s six games in charge. couldn’t league going get drawing it significant is about, and keep