Gareth Barry: West Brom brimming with confidence after fixing away form
Gareth Barry says the Baggies are brimming with confidence after three wins in a row away from home.
Before this run, Albion had only won two of their eight games on the road this season.
But Barry, who scored in a man of the match performance at Sheffield United last Friday, believes the Baggies have now fixed their away form.
“We’re always going to be strong at The Hawthorns, it was whether we could transform that away from home,” he said.
“Three wins on the road in this league is fantastic. It’s going to give us real confidence so long may it continue.”
The 37-year-old midfielder was one of the main catalysts of Friday’s victory over a fellow promotion-chasing team that leapfrogged the Baggies above the Blades.
After scoring just before half-time, he controlled the match after the break from the base of midfield.
“To control the game like we did in the second half means that’s probably one of the best away performances for a long time,” he added.
“To learn from the first half, adapt and then go on to control the game will please the manager.
“It’s always nice to score, it was a critical stage in the game, we were up against it.
“The goal deflated them, we held on to half time and then spoke about things and performed on the pitch the way we wanted to.”
Barry swept home a pull-back from Harvey Barnes, who was born six months after the veteran midfielder made his senior debut for rivals Aston Villa more than two decades ago.
“It's great to play alongside Gareth," said Barnes. "He's got a fantastic left foot and he was picking up everything in the second half, recycling it in the middle.
"It was massive for us and gave us control of the game and helped us to see it out in the end."
Barry fell out of favour with Baggies fans last season after being named as one of the Cab Four who allegedly stole a taxi in Barcelona.
He was then snapped in a Birmingham nightclub on the eve of a home game, although he was injured at the time.
But the relationship is showing signs of repair, and Barry thanked the 1,000 Albion fans who braved both the cold and Friday traffic.
“You need away fans driving you on,” he said. “Christmas is coming, it’s a freezing cold Friday night, and it’s on the TV, so all the players in that dressing room are giving them a big thank-you.”
