Olsson on ice-cream diet

Baggies defender clears Davies of any blame

Last updated: 25th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Olsson on ice-cream diet

Olsson: Not blaming Davies

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West Brom defender Jonas Olsson has been on an ice-cream diet for three days after clashing with Kevin Davies, but has cleared the Bolton striker of any blame.

Davies caught the Baggies centre-back with his elbow during Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns and Olsson needed six stitches in a mouth injury.

In his previous game the Swede clashed with West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green at Upton Park, with the England squad member claiming he was left with 'bits of tongue falling off in my mouth'.

Referee Mark Halsey reviewed the Hammers incident after the match but did not deem it worthy of a red card, with Olsson accepting Davies' clash with him in the following fixture was similarly just part of the game.

Take the knocks

Olsson said: "I have been eating ice cream for three days! I have had six stitches (in the mouth) and it has made eating and talking interesting.

"I got an elbow from Kevin Davies but I think unintentionally. I gave one away in the West Ham game and now I have had one back!

"It is uncomfortable but it is healing. It is a contact sport and you take the knocks. It is all part of the game. You give a few away and you get a few back. It is how it should be."

Olsson has returned to the Baggies side for the past two games after a knee problem and has formed a solid-looking partnership with Shelton Martis.

The Swede is optimistic Albion can still avoid relegation despite their current precarious position, seven points adrift of the safety zone, with games against Stoke and Portsmouth looming.

Pressure

He said: "I still genuinely believe we have a really good chance. I think we are playing well and looking for that win to really get in contact with the teams above.

"If we take four or six points from the next two games, then we are really in contention again and everyone else starts to feel us coming.

"It would add some pressure to their game and I still believe we can stay up.

"Of course, you can't close your eyes from reality or the facts. We are bottom of the table and if you ask someone, 'Who is going to go down?', they are going to say us, of course.

"That is just the reality. I can see why people say we can't stay up. But within the club and in the changing room, I genuinely believe we can do it."