4 min read
20th Feb 2024
James Collins felt his under-21s were more than worthy of Monday evening’s Black Country derby victory over West Brom.
Despite a tight first 45 minutes, three second goals secured the three Premier League 2 points for the Old Gold and Collins has praised two-goal Leon Chiwome, the clean sheet and the way his side implemented the tactics.
On winning the derby
“It’s always nice to win a local derby. I thought we thoroughly deserved it in the end.
“The first half was really tight and as you expect from a derby, very competitive. I thought they had some chances and Jimmy (Storer) made a couple of saves and I thought their keeper made an outstanding save as well.
“We thought the first goal was going to be important. What we said at half-time to them was stick to our tactics of getting around the outside of them and we thought we could exploit them there. In the end we did, so it’s pleasing that the tactic worked, pleasing when the boys work to those tactics we got success.
“I thought we took our goals well and by the end it was comfortable, but there were long spells in the day where it wasn’t.”
On Leon Chiwome’s performance
“I thought his work ethic was top notch. It’s not the be-all-and-end-all as a number nine but it doesn’t half help if someone’s willing to work off the ball.
“We knew today they would go tight with our tens and they’d go tight with our wing-backs, so we thought there would be space for the nine behind and down the sides.
“He exploited that well, I thought he made those runs really well. I’ve said it before, he’s got to tidy up his back to goal play but he’s only a second-year scholar and I thought he deserved his goals tonight.”
On keeping a clean sheet
“We got a little bit of luck with that, but you need that and it’s nice. We’ve got a clean sheet wall at the training ground because I think clean sheets are important for the boys to learn to have that spirit to defend and keep clean sheets.
“I think we’ve got four on it up to this point and that will be five, so hopefully the boys will start to see the benefit.
“Even at the end when the game’s won in the 93rd/94th minute, the bench is still being aggressive with the players and the subs because they want to get a clean sheet.
“It was pleasing. Jimmy (Storer) deserved that with his performance, I thought he was really solid in goal.”
On the priority of producing players
“It’s a difficult one because I can’t stand here and say how great it is to be high in the league when we’re winning and then when we’re losing say it’s not important.
“In the end, it isn’t important. Playing well and producing players is important, I say it every week.
“We have to improve our players, we have to get better and we have to have players who can supplement our first-team squad and also get good loans – that’s my job.
“My job isn’t to win leagues, but if they’re winning games it develops confidence. You don’t win games with poor players at this level so you’ve got to be pleased.
“The boys are buzzing in there because they’ve just beaten West Brom and I think that’s important.”