Steve Bruce issues challenge to West Brom players ahead of Blackburn clash | OneFootball

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·13 August 2022

Steve Bruce issues challenge to West Brom players ahead of Blackburn clash

Article image:Steve Bruce issues challenge to West Brom players ahead of Blackburn clash

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Bruce has challenged his players to be more clinical as they search for their first Championship win of the season at Ewood Park on Sunday.

The Baggies beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the Carabao Cup on Thursday but have drawn their first two league games of the season.


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Earning a point away at Middlesbrough and at home to Watford are by no means bad results but Albion will feel they had the chances to win both of those matches.

Tomorrow, they travel to the North West to take on a Blackburn Rovers side with a 100% record in the Championship under new boss Jon Dahl Tomasson and Bruce has urged his players to make the most of the opportunities that come their way as they search for their first three points in 2022/23.

He told club media: “As I’ve said many times before, we couldn’t have asked for a more difficult start to the season than our first few games.

“I’m really pleased with the performances we’ve produced in our first two league games, especially given who we’ve been up against in Middlesbrough and Watford.

“Make no mistake, Blackburn away on Sunday is also going to be a very difficult game, just like Middlesbrough and Watford.

“They’ve set the early pace in the Championship and they’re the only team who can boast maximum points from their matches so far, so they are going to be full of confidence.

“They’ve got a new manager who has come in and they’re totally different to how they were last year. They’ve got some fresh ideas and clearly, up at the top end of the pitch, they have players who can hurt any team in this division.

“However, when you look at the way that we’ve been playing, if we can replicate that on Sunday then hopefully it’ll also be a very difficult game for them.

“One area where we must try and improve though is in front of goal. We should’ve won the game on Monday against Watford but unfortunately we missed some really good chances.

“We could be sitting here on four points from two games instead of two.

“Hopefully we can be more clinical on Sunday and collect our first league victory of the campaign.”

Albion have been without big-money January signing Daryl Dike this term as the striker is sidelined due to injury but Karlan Grant has scored twice already when deployed centrally.

Quiz: Can you name which club West Brom signed these 25 English players from?

1 of 25

Article image:Steve Bruce issues challenge to West Brom players ahead of Blackburn clash

Who did West Brom sign Matt Clarke on loan from?

Brighton & Hove Albion Southampton Leeds United Burnley

The Verdict

Bar the first half at the Riverside, the Baggies have made an impressive start to the new campaign and can count themselves unlucky to have just two points from two games.

They were much the better side against Watford on Monday but were unable to take their chances.

Blackburn, on the other hand, have their clinical finishing to thank for their six points from two games – edging to a 1-0 win over QPR and scoring with three of their five attempts against Swansea City.

That should be a warning to the Baggies that squandering chances could be particularly costly on Sunday.

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