Di Matteo: Explained Cox decision
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Di Matteo happy to stay in touch
West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo was delighted to see his side keep their Championship promotion bid on track at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
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It was imperative Di Matteo's side stayed in touch with leaders Newcastle after the Magpies' 5-1 win over Cardiff on Friday night, and they did so thanks to a 66th-minute goal from recalled striker Simon Cox.
Cox was first to the ball as Argyle's central defenders Reda Johnson and Kari Arnason tried to clear and he volleyed home his eighth goal of the season from eight yards.
Di Matteo said: "He (Cox) wasn't out of the team because he wasn't performing well. We changed the shape of the team a little bit and then we started to win games. That was the reason."
Albion, who finished the game with 10 players following the 90th-minute red card for Thomas for a foul on substitute David McNamee, had an 84th-minute opportunity to double their lead but home keeper David Stockdale saved Graham Dorrans' penalty.
McNamee fouled fellow substitute Luke Moore after the goalkeeper had kept out Chris Brunt's 18-yard strike and the ball ran loose, but Stockdale guessed the right way and kept second-from-bottom Plymouth only one goal down.
Di Matteo said: "We are pleased with the result because we had two tough games, at Blackpool and here.
"I was pleased with the manner in which we won as well because it was a difficult pitch. You could not really play much football on it.
"We adapted pretty well to it and we won. We are very pleased with the three points.
"It is a shame that we have not got much time to enjoy our win. We have to travel home now and then focus on Scunthorpe on Tuesday and that's the way it is. It goes on and on. It is a marathon."
Argyle boss Paul Mariner felt his side did well despite their defeat.
Mariner said: "When you are in our position you find that something - and it might only be one thing - goes against you.
"We know that we should have done something when they scored and we didn't do it.
"They scored and they won the match but I saw plenty out there to be positive about."
Mariner paid tribute to midfielder Damien Johnson and striker Kenny Cooper on their debuts.
"He said: "Damien did well on his debut and playing out there for 90 minutes with the pitch like that is like playing one and a half games it's so sapping.
"I wanted to give Kenny a look at the game first and then put him on. Besides, Rory (Fallon) has been playing well and deserved his start."
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