Fabian delighted with Albion's fightback

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Head coach delighted with Albion's second-half performance in 2-1 win against Manchester City.

Bruce Talbot

2024-11-09T21:00+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler watches anxiously during the first half at the Amex. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Fabian Hurzeler praised his players for the personality they showed to come back and beat Manchester City at the Amex.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Albion turned it around in the second half to win 2-1 thanks to goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley and climb to fourth in the Premier League table.

He said, “We didn’t have momentum in the first half because we were too passive. We were able to change momentum today and used it well. The team gets for their performance the result they deserved, and I am happy for them.

Jack Hinshelwood challenges Phil Foden. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“We needed to be more patient in possession. We played too many vertical balls and gave it away too easily. But when you are patient gaps opened more and we played with more intensity in the second half, had better pressing patterns and were more ruthless in personal duels.”

Hurzeler was delighted for O’Riley whose winner came on his Premier League debut three months after his first appearance for the club ended in the opening minutes when he suffered a bad ankle injury in the Carabao Cup tie against Crawley Town.

“It’s important to have a big squad and subs who will have an impact,” added Hurzeler. “I am happy that Joao and Matt have come back after a long time out and did what they did. They worked hard in their rehab and today they got what their hard work deserved.

“In life you get what you work for. I have never seen a player who had such a positive mindset during an injury as Matt. He came back to the training ground and showed his personality. He wanted to come back faster and stronger than expected. That’s why you work hard – for moments like this.”