Richard Beale described helping Albion secure a morale-boosting 2-0 victory at Reading as an “amazing feeling”.
The Baggies claimed their first league win since late August at the Select Car Leasing Stadium thanks to a first-half goal from Matty Phillips and a super strike after the break from Taylor Gardner-Hickman – his first for the senior side.
And Beale says Saturday’s triumph is a huge one for the club and hopes it can be the catalyst for many more to follow as Albion target a rise up the Sky Bet Championship table.
Beale said: “It’s an amazing feeling and fantastic to get the three points.
“I’m delighted for everybody who has played a part in this because I know how hard all the staff work.
“This victory is for everybody today. It’s huge for us.
“The biggest thing for me now, is that this has to be the first of many more wins for the football club. That’s what everyone working for the club deserves and it’s what the fans deserve.
“The lads have worked really, really hard and we had a really good training week before the game today.
“Sometimes people just say that and then you’re never quite sure how that will transfer onto the pitch on a Saturday.
“Plenty of work which we carried out on the training pitches was evident today here at Reading and that’s such a nice feeling.
“To celebrate in front of the fans at the end, well, it was just the best feeling.
“We came out really quickly and started really well. We got about Reading and won the ball back high up the pitch which was presenting us with opportunities to create chances.
“Getting the first goal was really important today. We got pushed back a little bit after the goal and we were a little deep. I told the boys that we were going to have to suffer at times if we wanted the three points and Reading made it tough at times.
“We fought like dogs though and every player was backed up by a team-mate which was fantastic to see.
“In the second 45 we had to reset and thankfully we grabbed the second goal and came away with all three points.
“It’s great for Taylor Gardner-Hickman that he got an assist and a goal. I’ve had a very, very small part in his development. There are so many academy coaches and first-team coaches who deserve credit for his development.
“It’s a great day for him, to score his first goal for the club.
“The big message from me was to not play with the shackles on and press from the front and attack Reading and work hard. I'm so pleased the guys did that.
“The changing room is together and the lads are fighting. They know they’re better than the results they’ve got this season so hopefully this can be a catalyst for more victories.”
Watch the full WBA TV video interview above.
