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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Press Association

Nottingham Forest and the City Ground 'is Premier League' - West Brom boss Slaven Bilic

Slaven Bilic urged his West Brom side to find their killer instincts, despite seeing them kick-off the season with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.

The Baggies boss declared himself "pleased" to have claimed three points at what he regards as being a "Premier League" venue at the City Ground.

But he was less happy with what he felt was a lack of confidence in key moments from his side in the second half, after they had already amassed their 2-1 lead, thanks to goals from Kyle Edwards and Matt Phillips, which cancelled out an opening goal from Forest's Matty Cash.

West Brom were comfortable after the interval, but Bilic felt his side had been too relaxed - and should have been looking to kill the game off.

"In the second half, they did not create anything. They had corners and free-kicks but we were defending very well in the box and outside it," said Bilic. "It was the first game, so nobody is fully fit.

"But what I was not happy with, with the quality we have and the team we have, was something else.

Kyle Edwards scores past Aro Muric in the first half at the City Ground (Adam Fradgley - AMA/WBA FC via Getty Images)

"You do not always have to score goals. But there were situations where we should have created chances and we did not.

"We had five clear opportunities to create a one-on-one; to go clear on goal. I don't mind if we had missed all five of those. But we did not create one.

"I felt that we were happy to be winning 2-1 and 2-1 can mean nothing. I want us to be confident, to have the composure and not to panic. That is the only part of the game - and it is a major part of the game - that I was not happy with.

"We should have created five good chances in the second half. We were one pass, one bit of confidence or one decision short in key moments.

"I am very pleased, of course. You only need to look around you at the crowd and the stadium - this is Premier League. It was like a Premier League game."

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