Thursday, 7 March 2013

Steven Reid believes West Brom can make Europe - expressandstar.com

Defender Steven Reid today claimed West Brom can qualify for Europe – if they match their storming early-season form.

The Baggies head for Chelsea tomorrow fresh from reaching their pre-season target of 40 points with victory over Sunderland last weekend.

And Reid believes a Europa League spot is not out of the question for the Baggies, although he admits making Europe will be a tall order.

The former Ireland international was part of the Blackburn side that finished sixth in 2006 with 63 points, having been just three points better off than the Baggies at this point in their season.

The 31-year-old said: "Our aim is just to finish as high as possible, hopefully break the record for the number of points in the Premier League and improve on last season, which I think we will do.

"But the top six is still a possibility. We've got nothing to lose now and hopefully we can have a big push for the end of the season.

And Reid believes self-motivation will be key to Steve Clarke's men building on their back-to-back wins against Liverpool and Sunderland – a six-point haul that ended an eight-match winless run.

"You have to want to win every game and give everything in every game. So as much as anything it's down to us as players where we want to finish.

"We know we've got the ability to do it and I'm sure training will carry on as it has been, so it will come down to a bit of personal pride and desire.

"There is always a bit of pressure but it was a relief to get three points and getting back-to-back wins is tremendous to hopefully start another little run."

Reid has warned Albion not to expect another Chelsea meltdown when they target a hat-trick of wins against the Blues at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

The Baggies will look to heap more pressure on troubled interim boss Rafa Benitez after claiming victories that saw off the last two Chelsea managers in the clubs' last two meetings.

But Reid expects to face a fully firing Chelsea team despite Benitez's midweek rant about the club's fans and owners leaving his position under intense scrutiny.

"I have no idea how it will affect them, but I'm sure there will be motivation for them to go and get fourth spot," he said.

Defender Steven Reid today revealed he is playing for his Albion future in the final 11 weeks of the Premier League season.

West Brom schoolboy Isaiah Brown could become the youngest player in Premier League history tomorrow after being handed a dream call-up for the trip to Chelsea.

Dan Ashworth today left West Brom ahead of schedule after the Baggies agreed to let him join the Football Association on Monday.

West Brom boss Steve Clarke today admitted managing Chelsea is a future dream – but insisted he is not ready to succeed Rafa Benitez.

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