Advertisement

Brunt 'disappointed' not to hand over to Mowbray with a win

ged scott at the hawthorns - bbc sport england
·2-min read
Tony Mowbray was greeted by his old friend Baggie Bird when he was reintroduced to the crowd before the game at The Hawthorns
Tony Mowbray was greeted by his old friend Baggie Bird when he was reintroduced to the crowd before the game at The Hawthorns [PA Media]

West Bromwich Albion interim boss Chris Brunt admitted he was disappointed not to hand over to Tony Mowbray with a win after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

Albion had to come from behind to earn their third league draw in Brunt's six games in charge - to leave them sixth in the Championship, a place higher than they were when Carlos Corberan left on Christmas Eve to head back to Spain.

It takes the Championship draw kings to 14 for the season - but Brunt reckons it could have been a better result if they had taken their chances, and also in the 1-1 draw at Swansea in their previous league game.

After hearing 61-year-old Mowbray receive a warm pre-match reception, Brunt was the man in charge in the dug-out. But it needed Grady Diangana's 71st-minute fearless near-post strike just to get a point.

"We had opportunities that we should have taken, so the over-riding feeling is disappointment," said Brunt.

"We did more than enough but, looking back, we could have won this and the Swansea game too. Obviously losing Josh Maja was a blow but, if you want to win games, you have to score goals and we've missed too many chances.

"We haven't lost many games but we've had far too many draws. And that's something Tony Mowbray and his staff now have to work on.

"It's great to pass it on to someone I've a lot of respect for. He's done a great job here before, and is well respected by everyone. He's a great manager and the club can only benefit from having him back here."

Mowbray will take charge of his first game back, with long-time number two Mark Venus alongside him, at their old club Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.