Hurzeler: We did enough to win

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Head coach and goalscorer Lamptey assesses Monday's 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Bruce Talbot

2024-12-30T22:20+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler watches on at Villa Park. 📷 by James Boardman

Fabian Hurzeler felt Albion deserved to leave Villa Park with more than their fifth draw from their last seven matches.

Simon Adingra put Albion ahead after 12 minutes and after Ollie Watkins’ penalty and Morgan Rogers had made it 2-1 Tariq Lamptey levelled with his second goal of the month eight minutes from time.

Hurzeler said, “I think we deserved much more than one point, I thought we were the better team.

“We dominated the first 20-25 minutes but then we concede a penalty when it’s not possible that it’s a penalty. Bart [Verbruggen] was being blocked at the corner. You can give the penalty but also a foul on Bart. I don’t understand why it’s not a foul.

“It was too easy how we conceded two goals from set pieces but otherwise we defended good. In some moments, though, we were not mature enough.

Matt O'Riley jumps highest. 📷 by James Boardman

“After the second goal we struggled for a bit and weren’t intense enough, but I thought in the last 30-35 minutes we did enough to win, the reaction was very impressive. We played well in and out of possession. We had big chances to get a third goal.”

Hurzeler was delighted with Lamptey’s contribution – at both ends of the pitch.

“When he plays he always does well. I am happy that he scored but for me it’s more important how he defended and he did a great job.”

Asked about the first half of the season, Hurzeler gave a balanced assessment. “After a game like this and no win for seven games it’s obviously disappointing for us but we also have to see the positive things,” he said. “We have high expectation of ourselves but we’re still in a development process and have to keep working hard.”

Lamptey: Nice to get on the scoresheet