Hurzeler: Playing well for 30 minutes isn't enough

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Charlie Hanson

2025-12-03T22:25+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler's team sit seventh after their defeat to Villa. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Fabian Hurzeler learned that his team can ‘fight these kinds of battles’ in their 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa, but conceded that his team need to assert their dominance for longer.

Albion controlled the opening half an hour as they stormed into a two-goal lead, but Villa responded with two quickfire goals before half-time to ensure the score was level at the break.

Unai Emery’s side didn’t stop there as they went 4-2 up after the restart, before Jan Paul van Hecke’s late strike set up a grandstand finish that ultimately Albion couldn't capitalise on.

Jan Paul van Hecke scored his first brace for Albion in the defeat to Villa. 📷 by Simon Roe.

“It’s a disappointing result for us,” Hurzeler said. “The small margins decided the game.

“The game lasts 90 minutes and that's what we have to do better – [playing well for] 30 minutes is not enough.

“We conceded two goals [to make it 2-2], but it’s still an open game. We were still there. We started the second half well and in the end two set-pieces decided the game.

“We had the belief. We never gave up. We always tried hard, so that was positive. That's what we have to take away as well.

“We learned that we can fight these kind of battles. But it's about doing the small margins right. But overall the character from the team and the personality was good and we take a lot of positives away.”

Stefanos Tzimas was substituted during the first half with an injury which will be scanned tomorrow.