The question to Graham Potter was well-intended but could have been more carefully worded. Albion had just been well beaten by Tottenham in the first of three meetings between the clubs in this second half of the season. Potter had come up against Antonio Conte for the first time and the Italian had seen his plan work well. The question I asked was whether he would learn from a tough Saturday night ahead of the two remaining meetings. Of course he will.
Graham Potter replied: “Every game that’s what you have to do, you have to learn. We will learn from it and hopefully do better in the next game. We prepare for Watford now.”
What I should have asked was WHAT would Albion learn. Conte set a test which Albion did not handle well, certainly initially. The period in which they struggled lasted longer than at, for example, Anfield and Stamford Bridge.
Graham Potter said: “I thought defensively there were a couple of things. I also thought we turned the ball over a little bit too cheaply for what we normally do. Sometimes those things can happen. The attitude of the boys and the personality was great. Their intention was really good. Sometimes it’s not your night, you don’t quite hit the levels you need to and also there’s another team on the pitch we have to credit as well.”
Harry Kane’s double and a freak own goal off Solly March did the damage.
