Hurzeler: We have to show a reaction

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Head coach's reaction after Albion suffer their worst league defeat since 1958.

Bruce Talbot

2025-02-01T15:15+00:00

It was an afternoon to forget at the City Ground for Fabian Hurzeler and his team. 📷 James Boardman.

Fabian Hurzeler believes Albion will come through a test of character as they try to recover from their worst league defeat for 67 years.

Saturday's 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground was Albion’s heaviest league loss since losing 9-0 to Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 1958-59 campaign.

Hurzeler said, “It was a bad performance and result. We win together and we lose together and now I want to see a reaction from the team.

“It is going to be a test for the group and the individuals’ character [as to] how we deal with this. Maybe it’s a signal for us to reflect. It is part of the business of football to deal with these setbacks and respond. We were not on our highest level, so we need to be honest and take responsibility, and I’m sure we will.

Yankuba Minteh and Joel Veltman double up on Elliot Anderson. 📷 James Boardman.

“We have to apologise to the supporters for the result. It was a bad game for us.”

Hurzeler admitted it was his lowest point as a young coach but added, “Don’t worry about me, I can lift myself. Although I’m new in the Premier League I am sure I will find solutions. Bad losses are part of the journey, and you have to go through them sometimes. It’s now about me taking the responsibility to support my players and give them the right solutions to get back on the winning track.

“Today we wanted to play offensively and with courage and you can say in the end that was a mistake.

“We created more than we did last week but you need a balance between defensive stability and controlling the game in possession. Their goalkeeper was amazing but out of possession we were not on the field. And when it’s like this, you can’t win games.”