INSPIRATIONAL Blues skipper Jason De Vos described how he climbed off his sick bed once more to help his side to a vital win over Championship leaders West Brom.

By Derek Davis

INSPIRATIONAL Blues skipper Jason De Vos described how he climbed off his sick bed once more to help his side to a vital win over Championship leaders West Brom.

De Vos was rated highly doubtful to play after suffering bruising to his ribs and an ankle, on top of being laid low by flu.

But he took his place and along with fellow defender David Wright scored the goals that helped the Blues stretch their unbeaten home run to 17 games.

De Vos admitted his below-par performance against Coventry was largely down to him being ill and he was determined to make amends.

He said: “I was probably closer to not playing on Saturday as I have had the flu since Friday and perhaps I shouldn't have. But when you have not won away from home you want to go there and play your part.

“I didn't play up to my standard and I was desperate to put it right today and fortunately we got a very good result against a good side.

“I also bruised my ribs on Saturday which is usually the case when things aren't going your way - you get more knocks - but I was determined to play if I was healthy.

“It was a massive game for us and a big three points which gets us back on the right track to where we want to go.”

As a centre-half, scoring his second goal of the season was enjoyable but De Vos revealed he got more satisfaction at keeping Town's sixth clean sheet in eight home games.

He said: “People say it is nice to score a goal and you are never going to turn down a goal but I was much happier with the clean sheet.

“It was a big task for us and they came out like a house on fire for the first 15-20 minutes and looked good value for first place in the league.

“They are a very good footballing side with very dangerous players that looked lively but we had chances ourselves and worked our way back into the game.”

While De Vos's goal came from a well-worked free kick sent in by Gavin Williams, he positively purred about Town's opener from full-back David Wright.

He said: “It was a fantastic first goal from flowing football in an exciting second half.

“You have to give West Brom credit and they will be in the shake-up for promotion at the end of the season, so to grind out a result like that was very satisfying.”

The win smoothes over the away-day problems and De Vos insists the Blues are not stressing about the meagre four points they have attained on the road but are accentuating their success while accepting they can and must do better.

De Vos said: “There is always pressure in football but the only pressure we feel is to be successful and take this club into the Premiership.

“People will make a lot of us not winning away from home but we are in sixth place right now and we would have accepted that at the beginning of the season.

“We know we have to pick up points away if we are going to challenge for promotion but we are in a good position right now and the team is together in working towards that.”

The Canadian's other goal this season also came at Portman Road when Town beat Coventry 4-1.