Express & Star

West Brom boss Slaven Bilic: Wigan point is a 'blessing'

Slaven Bilic described the point Albion picked up at Wigan as a blessing after his team put in an underwhelming performance at the DW Stadium.

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Slaven Bilic head coach / manager of West Bromwich Albion (AMA)

The Baggies have been in sensational form this season but they were under-par throughout against the Latics and were fortunate to come away with a 1-1 draw.

A Sam Johnstone own-goal gave Paul Cook’s side the lead in Lancashire with the Baggies equalising through Charlie Austin - who scored after Wigan keeper Jamie Jones inexplicably gave away a free-kick on the six-yard line.

And Bilic admitted his team’s performance was nowhere near the levels they have set for themselves.

“We have to be honest, we weren’t what we have been so far,” he said.

“We were slow.

“But we have to give them credit. I said to the guys before the game they have been an unlucky side, they have something, they have good players.

“But we started slow and we have to be honest and say we didn’t deserve more than a point. We are all disappointed, we are all gutted.

“But we have to take this as a blessing because we know we can’t be like that yet we didn’t get big-time punished.

“We have to take this point as a good one because, to be fair, they were closer to winning.

“They had some good chances. They hit the post, Sam (Johnstone) made a couple of great saves.

“In none of the games so far have we had so few shots on goal. They had 14 shots we had six. That has never happened to us before.

“All credit to Wigan. At the end of the day, I am not happy but we got a point but every point counts.”

Bilic made three surprise changes before the game with Hal Robson-Kanu, Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana all left out the starting XI.

Charlie Austin, Kyle Edwards and Filip Krovinovic took their place.

And Bilic didn't think the changes were the reason his side underperformed.

“Do I regret them - It’s not like the players who came in weren’t good and the others were good,” he said.

“It was my decision. We have three games in six days, we have to manage the team.

"Some of the guys felt really tight and tired.

“Our aim was to put in players who are match fit. They are all playing, they are all getting minutes.

“I count them as regulars. They are 15 players who are basically are playing so nobody knows how they would be.

“But personally I don’t think that is the reason, or it shouldn’t have been a reason.”