Mowbray praises West Brom debutants
Mar 18 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post
West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray has revealed he decided to give defender Shelton Martis and midfielder Graham Dorrans their full Premier League debuts at West Ham United on Monday night after they had impressed him during training.
Martis was picked ahead of Ryan Donk to partner Jonas Olsson and produced an encouraging performance as Albion kept their first clean sheet away from home since September, and the Netherlands Antilles defender almost scored the winner but his second half header came back off the underside of the bar.
The 26-year-old has certainly had to be patient since joining Albion for £50,000 from Hibernian in July, 2007, and has made only two first team starts.
Martis has been out on loan at Doncaster Rovers and Scunthorpe United but Mowbray said he sensed it was time to hand him his first Premier League start.
“I try to pick players based on what I see on the training ground and I think Shelton sniffed the opportunity,” said Mowbray, who has been disappointed with his central defenders in recent weeks.
“I seem to have jumped from one centre-back partnership to another and the goals keep going in.
“Shelton has waited patiently. He went out on loan to Doncaster and I thought it was time he had his chance because we will never know if he is going to be a Premier league player if we don’t ever play him.
“He did exceptionally well and he could have scored but his header came back off the underside of the bar. He did very well.”
Dorrans also impressed in the heart of midfield on his full league debut alongside Robert Koren and Mowbray said the young Scot had proved he can become a Premier League player.
“He is a young boy who came from the second division in Scotland and I think he showed on Monday he has the quality and composure to be a Premier League footballer,” Mowbray said of the 21-year-old, who signed from Livingston in January, 2008.
“He wasn’t phased by it. I pick the players in form and every day in training he shows me he wants to play. His performances in the reserve team have been outstanding and he deserved his opportunity.”
After the goalless draw at the Boleyn Ground, Mowbray was full of praise too for Olsson, who made his return after six weeks out with a knee injury, and the Albion supporters, who were in fine voice in the east end of London.
“Jonas brings some composure to our defence,” Mowbray said.
“His ability to pass the ball from the back relieves pressure instead of just kicking it away and letting teams come back at us. He has the ability to pick a pass and he has the experience.
“Leon Barnett and Ryan Donk are both 22-years-old and I have jumped from one to the other and I think this league is pretty unforgiving, and I think experienced defenders can get the job done.
“The fans need a special mention too. They have stuck with the team. A lot of supporters would have turned against the team by now because we are bottom of the table. We have lost games at home and struggled to keep clean sheets.
“It has been particularly frustrating when teams don’t have to work too hard to get goals against us but I think the fans need a special mention.
“It is great credit to them that they have stuck with the team and they have a huge part to play.
“Hopefully the point will galvanise them to have a real go on Saturday and make it a cauldron for Bolton Wanderers.”
