Steven Reid admits there can be no excuses for West Brom crashing out of the Carling Cup at Ipswich.
Baggies midfielder disappointed with cup efforts
West Brom midfielder Steven Reid admits there can be no excuses for the Baggies crashing out of the Carling Cup at Ipswich.
Albion, who had beaten Manchester City in the third round of the tournament, produced a woefully below par display in the quarter-finals at Portman Road on Wednesday night as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Championship club Town.
Manager Roberto Di Matteo had continued his rotation policy with nine changes to the side which had won at Everton last Saturday, handing a debut to young defender James Hurst.
And Reid, who captained the side on Wednesday, concedes the Baggies supporters deserved better than their collective performance, though he highlighted Hurst's individual display as one of the few positives of the evening.
No excuses
Reid said: "The team which the gaffer has been picking in the Carling Cup has been doing well. It was a team of experienced lads, except for Hursty, and lads who have played regularly. There are no excuses, we just were not good enough on the night.
"It was a major disappointment and we have got to hold our hands up.
"We did not put in a good performance and I don't think we really deserved anything from the game.
"We did not play to the level that was expected and there were a few disappointed lads in the dressing room because it was an opportunity to potentially go all the way to Wembley.
"Hopefully we can put that result right (at Newcastle) at the weekend.
"Now we have got to concentrate on getting a few more points on the board and climbing that table."
Hurst performed well at right-back and Reid feels the teenage stopper has a bright future ahead of him.
"None of the lads really performed to the levels expected, but Hursty had a great debut and hopefully he can go on to great things," Reid added on the club's official website.
"Hursty is a decent player and he was probably the pick of the lads last night.
Debut
"I thought he had a great debut.
"He has got good energy and gets up and down the line and there is no reason why he cannot crack on now and be a part of the squad and go on to good things for the club."
The Baggies could move back into the Premier League top 10 with a win over Newcastle at The Hawthorns, where they will again be without the suspended Youssouf Mulumbu. Reid is hoping for another chance to stake his claim for a regular first-team place.
He said: "If I am asked to do the job I will be delighted and we will hopefully get the three points."
