Steve Clarke hopes his West Brom side's almost perfect away performance does not get overshadowed by the three red cards dished out at Southampton. Albion headed to St Mary's with just three wins in 14 league games but returned to form in style, with Marc-Antoine Fortuné, Romelu Lukaku and Shane Long all scoring in a 3-0 win.
The three points gave them a club record for Premier League points (48) and wins (14), although it is the top-flight refereeing of Robert Madley that stole the show. The Yorkshireman sent off the Saints pair Gastón Ramírez and Danny Fox as well as West Brom's Fortuné.
"I think the win is the most important topic," Clarke said. "We've been scratching around for a win a bit recently. The performances have been OK by and large. We have become a little bit of a reactive team, where we wait to the game happens and then we go chasing it.
"We do that quite well but today we spoke about getting the first goal, we did that and from there we controlled the game. It was almost a perfect away performance.
"The three front players were great, not just causing Southampton a problem but defensively they worked hard for the team, closed the game down at the right times. The shape of the team was good – something we've worked on this week. It is nice when it pays off."
Clarke had not seen a replay of Fortuné's sending-off before speaking to the media, but agreed with Madley's decision to send off Ramírez and Fox. "They tell me Marc pushed him and his hand caught him in the face so if that is the case we will take the punishment," he said. "I thought the other two red cards were clear as well, although it is a shame when a game finishes 10 against nine."
Mauricio Pochettino had also not seen the incidents back but could not have missed his side's woeful display. This performance was the worst since the Argentinian replaced Nigel Adkins as manager in January and brought an abrupt end to a six-match unbeaten streak. "From my point of view we just didn't start in the game," Pochettino said. "We didn't really get into the game at all. We didn't feel comfortable, especially when we conceded the first goal in the sixth minute.
"Then we became a bit fearful of their attacking strikers, who were quite fast, strong and physically fit. From that point on we were uncomfortable and never really got into the game.
"I think we had a bad day but, then again, the good days, the good victories and bad days give me a lot of information as a manager so I have learned a lot from today."
Pochettino was clearly frustrated after the match and knows his side need to learn from the defeat.
Asked if he was more disappointed with the loss or his sent-off players, he said: "I don't know right now. I need to review the images on the TV and we'll see later on if they are actually red cards. But what is true is that the team showed a side that has nothing to do with who we are and how we play."
Fox's red card was particularly frustrating given he was playing in place of injured first-choice left-back Luke Shaw, meaning both will now miss next weekend's trip to Tottenham.
"It is always a problem when one player is injured and another is banned in the same position," Pochettino added. "That represents a problem but Nathaniel Clyne has played there in the past and perhaps he will do again."
Read more... http://www.chelseamashup.com/2013/04/30/southampton-0-3-west-bromwich-albion-premier-league-match-report/
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