We must stay hungry in promotion chase – Baggies boss Bilic
WEST Brom’s promotion push remains on track, but there is little chance of complacency seeping in, with Slaven Bilic telling his players they “have done nothing yet”.
The Baggies are a point behind Sky Bet Championship leaders Leeds heading into the final four matches of the season and boast a five-point cushion over thirdplaced Brentford.
West Brom are as short as 1/20 with some bookmakers to get promoted to the Premier League, but manager Bilic is hammering home the need for his side to stay focused ahead of today’s trip to Blackburn.
“It was a great boost to play as we did, but only if we continue by being even more hungry, more focused,” he said, reflecting on Wednesday’s 2-0 win against playoff hopefuls Derby.
“If we start thinking even a little bit ‘that’s it’... no! We have done nothing yet.
“We have to push harder, we have to be more brave, more hungry, more compact. We’ve done a lot but we have done nothing yet. Zero.
“In the Championship, every game is individual and brings traps. Motivated opponents bring problems, every game brings moments when you have to suffer.
“You have to be crazy hungry and crazy motivated. We can’t think now that we are good.”
Tony Mowbray will be looking to provide a bump in the road for his former club, with Blackburn still holding faint play-off hopes.
“I don’t want to focus on the bigger picture, otherwise your emotions will go high or low,” he told iFollow Rovers.
“The focus is firmly on West Bromwich Albion, which will be a tough game against a side who are intent on winning promotion, whether that’s first or second.
“We know what’s coming for us, it was Leeds last weekend and West Brom is this weekend.
“We had our chances against Leeds, and if we can create and score our chances this weekend then, as I’ve always said, we can beat anybody in this division.”
Third-placed Brentford will look to keep up the pressure when visiting Derby, while fellow play-off hopefuls Preston and Nottingham Forest will do battle at Deepdale.
Millwall head to embattled Hull and Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough welcome a rejuvenated Bristol City to Teesside.
Barnsley face another troubled side in the form of Wigan, Charlton host Reading and Sheffield Wednesday travel to QPR.
Tomorrow’s fixtures see struggling Stoke host rudderless Birmingham and leaders Leeds take on Swansea in south Wales.
■ Luton Town moved of the bottom of the table with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield last night. Nathan Jones’ Hatters scored twice in the second half through Sonny Bradley and Elliot Lee to move just two points away from safety.