BAGGIE OF NERVES
vThe Hawthorns, kick-off 5pm
WEST BROM boss Slaven Bilic admits Brentford’s form is pushing his nervous players to the limit.
But the Baggies boss insists his side can handle the pressure to close out automatic promotion.
Brentford beat Derby on Saturday to make seven successive wins and are just three points behind second-placed Albion.
Bilic said: “The supporters are a bit nervous and the players are a bit nervous. Everybody is a bit nervous.
“If it was easy it wouldn’t be a big achievement. There is a team below us, Brentford, who are pushing us to the limit.
“If it wasn’t for them it would be done. If you asked us we would rather be without the pressure, but we are responding really well.
“We are playing good, creating chances and winning. The guys’ response was great.
“All we have to do is to continue like that. And we have to be on top of our game again.”
After hosting the Cottagers, Albion visit struggling Huddersfield on Friday before the visit of QPR on the final day.
They were on course to win at Blackburn at the weekend but were pegged back by a second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
But Bilic says this is no time for Albion’s squad to doubt themselves after only one defeat in seven games.
He added: “We should have more confidence. We just have to have more concentration to convert those chances. That is my message to the players.
“If we create the same number of chances we created in the last four games, as well as staying solid and compact, then I would expect us to win the game.
“I just want the players to do their best because I know their best is better than the others’ best.
“Everything is there and results-wise we are doing well. That is the reason why I am confident.”
DERBY chief Phillip Cocu says under-fire keeper Ben Hamer does not deserve the stick he is getting. Hamer (below) deactivated his Twitter account in the wake of his dire performance in the 3-1 defeat against Brentford on Saturday. And ahead of the Rams’ visit to play-off rivals Cocu said: “The way people go at him at the moment is beyond the limits. It is unfair. He doesn’t deserve it.” Sonny Bradley says Luton’s battling spirit will help them stay up. The Hatters seemed certain to go down only last week, but a win at Huddersfield on Friday has given them a boost.
And with games left against at home tonight, fellow strugglers Hull on Saturday, and Blackburn on the final day, skipper Bradley said: “We are close to staying up and if we win the next three we think we will.”
Boss Gary Rowett has hailed Bartosz Bialkowski as a key man in
push for the play-offs. The Lions could enter the top six if