Maty Ryan has stressed the role Albion fans can play in Saturday’s important game against Aston Villa.
There will be another full house at the Amex for the visit of Dean Smith’s side and Albion will be looking to right a few wrongs after the agony of their stoppage-time 2-1 defeat at Villa Park earlier in the season.
Ryan said: “It’s a massive game and a big opportunity for us at home in front of our own fans.
“We had a bitter feeling after the game at Aston Villa, even when we were down to ten men we had chances to win and then they scored in the last minute so that was tough.
“We obviously have respect for Aston Villa and the players they have but this is a crucial period for us and making the Amex our fortress is very important in what we are trying to achieve for the rest of the season.
“The fans can play their part. We’re playing a more modern way this season with a new manager and it’s very enjoyable to be part of and to see some of the football we’ve played.
“We’re definitely a work in progress and perhaps we haven’t got the points that we deserve but if we sustain our high standards we will move forward. When the crowd are behind us the Amex is a great place to play and we need that again on Saturday.”
Ryan has always had a special affinity with Albion supporters and that bond has been strengthened in the last couple of weeks as they get behind his efforts to raise money for bushfire relief in his native Australia.
Last weekend, Ryan raised 26,000 Australian dollars after donating 500 dollars for every save made in the Premier League fixtures. On Wednesday the club announced that they would match Ryan’s fundraising with the money going to charities supporting wildlife rescue.
He added: “I’m fortunate that our fans have a chant they sing in my name and at Everton last weekend they changed one of the lines to ‘save the koala’ which was a nice twist!
“I wasn’t expecting the coverage that this has got. My social media has broken all records with all the messages of support, but I am very privileged to be in a position to help the people back home and when the club said they would double the amount raised it was mind-blowing.
“It was a fantastic gesture but typical of the values at this club. I couldn’t be more thankful and that goes for the people back home as well.”