WOODY WILL GET IT RIGHT!
Boro boss backed to turn tide by Bilic
SLAVEN Bilic threw his support behind “legend” Jonathan Woodgate after condemning struggling Middlesbrough to a fourth defeat in five matches.
Hal Robson-Kanu’s first goal of the season sealed a smash-and-grab victory that propelled the in-form Baggies two points clear at the Championship summit.
But it also spelled heartbreak for the home side, who spurned a host of chances and played with far greater cohesion than in recent games.
“Middlesbrough are down there at the moment,” said West Brom boss Bilic, whose side have now lost just one of their first 12 games.
“But they have two legends on the bench in Jonathan and Robbie Keane. They are warriors who have done everything in football.
“They have a good team. They are not confident after the last couple of weeks, but they are fighting hard. A couple of wins is all they need.
“Make no mistake. We are a good team, and they gave us a hard game. If they continue like this, very soon they will be out of trouble – and I have no doubt that they will do it.”
It may have been Robson-Kanu who sealed the points for Bilic, but it was goalkeeper Sam Johnstone who won the match.
The former Manchester United keeper was in the thick of the action as Boro, transformed by Woodgate’s switch to a back five, repeatedly sliced through the Baggies rearguard.
Having repelled an early effort from Paddy McNair, Johnstone then produced a superb double-save on the cusp of halftime, blocking a close-range ef