Slaven Bilić accepts his side were under par in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Wigan and says he has to be happy to take a point away from the DW Stadium.
The Baggies were not at the level which has seen them win their last six Sky Bet Championship fixtures but a well-worked Charlie Austin goal was enough to extend their unbeaten record to 11 games.
And Bilić offered an honest assessment of his team’s display in Greater Manchester.
“If somebody had offered us a point before the game - no, not before any game would I take a point,” he admitted. “But especially tonight, with where they are in the table and where we are. When you consider form, quality, everything, but after the game I have to be delighted.
“We were nowhere near what we have to be. We were slow. We were basically, collectively, as you say in England, it was a bad day at the office and I’m very disappointed with that.
“On the contrary we have to give credit to them. They were sharper, they started on the front foot, they pressed us and then from that they realised our game and showed quality to create opportunities in our box. They were good.
“I told the guys at the end, we are very disappointed, but take this as a blessing. We know we can’t be like this and we didn’t get punished big time. I have to be happy with a point and I am happy with a point because we didn’t deserve more than this.
“Everything looked good yesterday and it was normal preparation. We looked tired and flat and we changed the team because of that but also because of the belief in the players who started.
“We never came into the rhythm of the game and we didn’t dictate the rhythm of the game, it was more them to be fair.
“As I said, I’m not happy with a point before the game, but definitely - if we look at the game - it was a very good point for us and I have to give the credit to the home side because they were really up for it today.”
