Slaven won’t panic as his blunt Baggies lose their top billing
BOSS Slaven Bilic told his Baggies stars not to panic – despite losing top spot in the Championship.
Leeds stormed past West Brom after this stalemate in South Wales to reclaim first place after more than a month chasing them down.
But Bilic believes his men are still in prime position to reclaim their Premier League status with nine games to go despite watching his creative stars misfire.
He said: “It’s good to get the clean sheet with a solid performance and to more or less control the game.
“But we know have to be better in terms of quality in the final third. That’s what was missing.
“I would love to be in top spot, but it doesn’t worry me.
“We have one less game to go, the gap is very balanced, it is significant, it is big enough not to panic.
“It also keeps you on your toes and keeps you focused knowing you could lose it in a split second and find yourself in a situation where it is smaller.”
Bilic’s side quickly established total control as they looked to cling on to top spot against a Swansea side who could only name six substitutes.
A lengthy injury list, loan restrictions and an outbreak of mumps in the Under-23s had stretched their squad to the limit.
And while the Baggies looked to do the same on the pitch by dominating the ball, it was Swansea who had the best chances.
Rhian Brewster was denied by a last-ditch Kyle Bartley challenge after starting a sweeping move and almost latching on to Andre Ayew’s whipped ball. But Matt Grimes almost undid all their defensive work when he turned into trouble on the edge of the box.
The Swans midfielder gifted possession to Robinson and had Freddie Woodman to thank for sparing his blushes after the goalkeeper parried the danger away.
After managing to survive until half-time, the hosts should have been ahead 40 seconds into the second period.
Grimes fired a shot from 25 yards that was parried into the path of Jay Fulton but he sliced the rebound over the bar from 12 yards, before finding the stands again moments later from his captain’s cutback.
Jake Livermore had a late chance when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box but the midfielder fired over as West Brom slipped to second for the first time in more than a month.
Swans boss Steve Cooper said: “We are down a place in the league and a point closer to the play-offs – that sums up the Championship.
“There are worse places to be. I think about some of the teams who are below us who would do anything to be in the position we are in.
“We are thinking really positively and going for the play-offs.”