Potter: Fans vital to Amex results

Graham Potter says that our supporters will be key in making the Amex a tough place to come for visiting teams this season.

We’re unbeaten in six consecutive home games, a run that stretches back to April, when we drew 0-0 with Norwich City.

Of those six, Albion have won three, a statistic which Potter says can only improve as the connection between the team and the fans continues to grow.

“It helps if you’ve got that connection with the fans, that atmosphere makes it very hostile for the away team. I think everybody in football will say if you go to a ground where the crowd are with the home team there’s a real connection, a real passion and emotion. It’s then hard for the away team.

“You have to work towards that, you have to create that and we’ve tried our best to do that. We’ve got better and better, we’ve come out of a period where obviously nobody was in the stadiums but I think more and more we’re playing a bit better, the supporters are more and more with us and I think there’s been a really good atmosphere at the Amex.”

With the transfer window closing on Thursday, the head coach now has the squad in place to work with until January.

“I like the group, I like the different qualities we have, the different personalities we have. People make assessments now but really the proof is in the pudding to be honest.

“People ask how good your transfer window’s been and how much money you’ve spent but actually it’s about whether the new players help the team function better and we won’t know that until nine months’ time.

“In terms of how I would assess the group, it is more about how it functions together, how the personalities are mixing, how training is every day – and the initial signs are really positive. Now it’s a case of work. The window’s shut for that long period of 13 matches and then we look forward to the next round of transfer questions!”