Sent to Coventry

1-0 to the Albion!

A scrappy second half display, which saw Coventry throwing all of their kitchen sinks at the Albion defence, resulted in another three points on the board for the Baggies.

Roberto Di Matteo was modest in the extreme: "It`s one more hurdle we are over. Nothing has been achieved, but we`re pleased with the three points. We`ve got six points from the last two home games and we knew the home games were going to be important.'

He does like to use that 'nothing has been achieved' line with some regularity. It's not true, of course, and isn't exactly the greatest motivational mantra.

He continues: "Last night was a bit of a scrappy affair but we managed to score a goal, put ourselves in front and then we battled.

"We defended that goal for dear life. We couldn`t quite keep the possession in the second half because our legs were a bit weary.'

Well, it's nice to see the lads battling to victory rather than succumbing to pressure.

Top marks Baggies; these are the season defining victories.

The game didn't start like that though, Steven Reid grabbed an early goal and Albion looked dangerous from the off.

Di Matteo added: "We were very good in the first half and got the goal. In the second-half we hung onto that lead dearly until the end.'

A controversial moment came near the close when Robert Koren's shot looked to have crossed the goal-line; replays appeared to show the ball going in before goalkeeper Keiren Westwood clawed it back.

Di Matteo said: "I couldn`t see from where I was standing. He claimed it, but I think it was difficult even for the linesman and referee.'

It the end, one goal proved to be enough to take us another step closer to where we all want to be.

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