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Downing: We're proud of top-ten finish
Posted on: Sun 13 May 2012
KEITH Downing was disappointed to finish on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller against Arsenal - but was delighted Roy Hodgson's reign as Baggies boss finished with the club's best-ever Barclays Premier League finish.
Albion bounced back from Yossi Benayoun's early opener to put themselves 2-1 up within 15 minutes thanks to strikes from Shane Long - his eighth goal of the season - and Graham Dorrans.
But Andre Santos levelled on the half-hour mark and Marton Fulop's second mistake of the game allowed Laurent Koscielny to grab victory with a 55th-minute effort.
Fortunately, defeat did not cost the Baggies a top-half-of-the-table finish as they clung onto tenth spot by virtue of scoring one more goal than Swansea over the course of the campaign.
"We finished the game really strongly with a late rally and came up against some very good defending and last-ditch tackles," said Downing.
"But unfortunately when you're playing a quality side like Arsenal you can't give the goals away that we gave away and expect to win the game.
"We were disappointed with the conceding of the goals but overall pleased with the performance.
"It's a shame because we'd have like to have seen Roy off with a win but giving the goals away gave us a mountain to climb.
"After conceding within the first few minutes we came back really well and showed very good character and good quality of goals.
"We're disappointed with the result but very pleased with the performance."
And the assistant head coach, who also paid tribute to new England boss Hodgson, added: "To finish in the top half is a fantastic achievement for the club.
"We've had some happy moments, some big scalps at home and we've gone to Newcastle and won.
"We've had some good performances and over the season we're delighted how it has gone.
"We've become an established Premier League team and that's no mean achievement with the resources we have - and that's a lot down to Roy.
"Roy has given the club a stability and structure on a daily basis, making players better as individuals and as a team.
"He has improved the standard by working with professionalism every day.
"I know every manager does that but he is making players, whether they're 30 years of age or 20, better.
"There are a lot of players in the dressing room pleased with his achievement but very disappointed he's gone.
"But we have the foundation there now to move on next season.
"He's left a legacy and you saw the appreciation from the supporters.
"We're all very hopeful he can do the same for England."
