West Brom boss Moore hails youngsters after goalless FA Cup draw with Brighton

West Bromwich Albion boss Darren Moore praised the performance of his young side after they held division-above Brighton & Hove Albion to a goalless FA Cup fourth round draw at the Amex this afternoon.
West Bromwich Albion boss Darren Moore. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.West Bromwich Albion boss Darren Moore. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.
West Bromwich Albion boss Darren Moore. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.

Both teams had chances to win the game in 90 minutes, but a lack of clinical attacking play and good performances from goalkeepers David Button and Jonathan Bond kept the game scoreless.

The two teams will now meet in a week-and-a-halfs time at The Hawthorns, with the date yet to be confirmed, to determine who will advance to the fifth round of the world's oldest cup competition.

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Moore said: "I thought it was a good game. It thought it was two teams trying to win it, but both teams couldn't break the deadlock in the end.

"There was plenty of action at both ends. I'm pleased with performance of the players today.

"They were really good and we get ready for the replay in ten days time."

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Moore made nine changes from his squad that beat Bolton Wanderers in the Championship on Monday evening, with Hal Robson-Kanu and Rekeem Harper the only players retaining their places in the starting XI.

The Baggies fielded a youthful squad, with four academy graduates in the starting line-up, and the West Brom manager hailed the displays of his young charges against an 'excellent' Brighton team.

Moore added: "They're an excellent team Brighton. We knew it was going to be a tough game.

"We worked hard in training with the squad. We did some good work with them and while I was pleased with the work we did off the ball, on the ball some of the younger players showed a lot of talent and ability against good opposition.

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"I'm very pleased. We'll pick the bones out of it and see how we can do better."

With a replay on the horizon for both teams, Moore felt having to face off against their Premier League opponents for a second time wasn't a 'hindrance' but was wary of losing his starlets before their rematch with Brighton.

He said: "We try and win every game, it just wasn't to be. You saw both teams try and win the game, we just couldn't break the deadlock.

"It's not a hindrance (playing the replay) because there's huge admiration for the FA Cup at West Bromwich Albion Football Club. You saw us today play the game in the right manner and try and win the game.

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"Once we get back and it gets to Monday morning we know the transfer window looms. We can look at things like that and look at the different possibilities.

"We can look at the replay and the interest that we've had in our younger players but we will come together as a football club and make the right decision. "