Fabian Hurzeler celebrates in front of the away fans (Image: Richard Parkes)
Fabian Hurzeler celebrates in front of the away fans (Image: Richard Parkes)
Fabian Hurzeler was delighted to get another type of win as his side battled to three points at Sunderland.
Second-half goals from Maxim De Cuyper and Jaouen Hadjam, either side of a red card for Pascal Struijk, secured a 2-0 win.
It was not the prettiest of triumphs but Hurzeler loved the qualities it highlighted.
The Albion head coach said: “Belief should be always there, because it's one our characteristics we always want to see.
“I said before the game that it will be completely different approach from Sunderland.
“It will be a different kind of game, will be more a game of second balls, personal duels.
“What pleased me most today was that we're capable of playing this game.
“It was not the nicest football game in the first half, but we coped with the intensity from Sunderland.
“We were really brilliant at the basics, and then you are able to compete with these kinds of teams.
“Especially here, playing away in Sunderland, is a tough place to go.
Fans enjoy the win
Fans enjoy the win at Sunderland (Image: Richard Parkes)
“I have to praise my team that they always have this belief, always go into the game having this belief that we can get something out of the game.
“Especially the approach and how they managed it, with this togetherness, with this defensive mindset over the whole 90 minutes, was really impressive.”
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Fine finishes from two players returning from international duty made the difference.
Hurzeler said: “With Hadjam, if you look back at his national game with Algeria, he scored a similar goal, so very pleased that he copied that goal for us.
“And from Maxim was individual quality.
“I always say if we as a team understand that everyone has to defend, if we keep a clean sheet, then we are difficult to beat because we will always have these kinds of moments in the game where we can score.
“We have shown it again today.”