Football
PA Sport 9y

Brown Ideye vows to prove critics wrong after slow start to WBA career

Brown Ideye accepts all the criticism that has been levelled at him since his big-money move to West Brom but hopes he will be given the chance to prove himself.

The 26-year-old striker became the Baggies' record signing when they shelled out 10-million-pounds to bring him to The Hawthorns from Dynamo Kiev last summer.

But he has been a major disappointment, scoring only twice in 14 Premier League appearances, the majority of which have come off the bench.

West Brom were reported to be willing to cut their losses and sell Ideye to Qatar club Al Gharafa during the January window, but their failure to secure a replacement earned him a stay of execution.

The Nigeria international feels he deserves another chance and is motivated to show Baggies fans what he can really do.

Ideye said: "I never thought I was going to leave West Brom for a club in Qatar. I haven't really started playing football for West Brom so I think I should have more time.

"I've been having a lot of support from the fans and people at the club so I don't think now should be the time for me to leave.

"People can say what they want, they have the right to do that. Since I came here I haven't been that Brown Ideye that people know and I feel bad about it.

"This is England and if you're not giving your best, people talk. I think they are right in everything they say.

"I should be on top of my game but it's not possible for you to be on top of your game when you're sitting on the bench so I just have to keep pushing on, even if I only have 10 or 15 minutes in the game. I have to prove myself."

Ideye was on the bench again when West Brom travelled to Burnley on Sunday but he was given 45 minutes and headed in the equaliser that earned Tony Pulis' side a 2-2 draw.

"I've been waiting for this moment," he said.

"As a striker I like to score goals in every game and I don't see why it's not possible for me to start from now doing what people believed from me.

"I came here to score goals and I hope this will just be the start. It was an important goal and I think that said it all."

Pulis would love nothing more than for Ideye to live up to his price tag, and he praised the striker's contribution at Turf Moor.

The West Brom boss said: "It was a great header. He looked dangerous when he came on and sharp, and that's what we need."

Burnley were left ruing their inability to hold onto a lead for the third time in four games after going two up inside 32 minutes.

The point was enough to lift them out of the relegation zone but they have a formidable run of fixtures coming up, starting with a trip to Manchester United on Wednesday.

Matches against Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal follow over the next couple of months, but the Clarets can take confidence from having fought back to claim a draw at City in December.

For midfielder David Jones, Wednesday means a trip back to the club where he began his career.

He said: "You always want to play at stadiums like that against good players and good teams.

"I spent a lot of my early days there so it'll be nice to see a few people but we want to go there and get something, that's the most important thing.

"We're not expected to get anything. We can go there with total freedom. Obviously we're confident in our own ability, and if we do our jobs and play really well, then we're definitely in with a chance.

"We're going to have to step up to the plate and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

^ Back to Top ^