BILIC GOES ON ATTACK OVER LEAKY DEFENCE

St Mary’s: Tomorrow, 12pm

SLAVEN BILIC insists West Brom’s defending has not been shocking – despite admitting his claim makes him sound “stupid”.

The promoted Baggies have one point from three games and 11 goals conceded – a Premier League record after that number of matches – going into tomorrow’s trip to Southampton.

They lost 3-0 to Leicester, 5-2 at Everton and drew 3-3 with Chelsea.

But boss Bilic (above), a former centre-back, does not believe Albion’s defence has been all that bad. “For the majority of our players this is the first time they have played in the Premier League,” he explained.

“We’ve played Leicester and Everton, who have picked up nine points from their first three games, and Chelsea is always Chelsea.

“It sounds weird or stupid but I’m relatively pleased with the majority of our defending.

“It’s just those silly switches off or mistakes which at other levels you can get away with. In the Premier League opponents just punish you cruelly.

“I’m quite pleased with the way we played but we have to stretch it over the whole game. As a team we are not defending bad.

“There are a lot of examples where we have quality defending. We made a few really bad individual mistakes and conceded a couple of set-plays. It’s more a mental thing than a physical one.”

Saints boss Ralph Hassenhuttl is preparing for Albion’s visit having had a £13million offer accepted for Brest’s France Under-21 midfielder Ibrahima Diallo.

But after missing out on No.1 target Ibrahim Sangare over of work permit issues, he said: .“First we must wait until everything is finished.

“We’re doing everything we can to get players in.”