Clarke delighted with West Brom exploits

Steve Clarke hailed West Bromwich Albion’s strong start to the season after they defeated Everton 2-0 at home on Saturday.

West Brom have begun the 2012/13 English Premier League campaign strongly, beating Liverpool and Everton at home and drawing away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Goals from Gareth McAuley and Shane Long sealed all three points for the home side at The Hawthorns, and manager Clarke felt his team were worthy winners.

“It was a good afternoon for us, It was a good game for us. Everton came here in a good moment but we arrived also in a good moment,” he said.

“I thought the first half was a bit too cagey, too good teams feeling each other out. But in the second half, when the game opened out a wee bit, I thought we were good value for the win.

“It’s been a good start. When you looked at the games we had (Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton) you thought it would be difficult.

“But seven points from nine is a good start and gives us something build on.”

Everton manager David Moyes was disappointed with his team’s failure to capitalise on their strong showing early in the contest.

“I thought for probably the first hour we had good control but we didn’t do well enough in the final third today and that was the reason we didn’t win,” he said.

“I’ve got to say West Brom defended very well. I made a change to try and go for it because I thought we weren’t doing enough to score and in opening up we conceded a goal from it,” he added, referring to the decision to replace Steven Naismith with Kevin Mirallas.

“I probably should have stayed the way we were and maybe come away with a nil-nil but I wanted to try and win the game. We had enough of the ball to do that,” he said.

“But in the final third today we hardly crossed it, we hardly passed it well. But that’s great credit to West Brom.”