Hodgson happy despite tense finish

West Brom manager Roy Hodgson believes his side should have killed off the contest at Norwich, but was happy with the three points.

The Baggies won 1-0 thanks to Peter Odemwingie’s third-minute goal but he missed a second-half penalty that should have made it 2-0, to set up a tense finale.

“We didn’t score the second goal and we had the opportunities, a couple of near misses and a penalty too, and when that doesn’t come you know you’re going to be in for a tough last 10 minutes,” Hodgson told Sky Sports.

“You know the ball is going to be in and around your penalty area at every juncture and you hope it goes kindly and your defence stands firm.”

West Brom picked up their first points of the season following gallant losses to Manchester United and Chelsea, with Hodgson generally happy with the display.

“I am disappointed we didn’t pass the ball better there [in the final 20 minutes], but it would be wrong for me to be disappointed at a win against a Norwich side who are hard to beat here,” he said.

Norwich counterpart Paul Lambert was less impressed, bemoaning the missed penalty he believes his side deserved.

Late in the match a stray elbow from Gabriel Tamas collected James Vaughan, leaving the Canaries boss calling for a spot-kick.

“I have seen it like everyone else and I think it is a penalty and the referee will see that and think it was a real bad one, if you look at it,” he said.

Odemwingie’s goal was all that separated the sides and despite their good play Norwich failed to pick up a first win since their promotion from the Championship.

There was plenty of feeling from the fans at Carrow Road and Lambert admitted that, results aside, he could not fault his side for their effort.

“At the minute we are getting punished when we are playing well which is frustrating but the effort and commitment is there, I can’t complain about the lads,” Lambert said.

“But you can’t start the game and be down within two minutes. We gave them something to hang on to.”

“We should have done better with the goal, you make mistakes you get punished but I can’t fault the lads because I don’t believe we deserved to lose but we did.”