Mowbray: We must compete

Tony Mowbray has told his players they must learn from the opening minutes of this season's Premiership campaign before they travel to Old Trafford. Albion were caught cold by a rampant Arsenal side during the opening stages at The Emirates Stadium with Samir Nasri scoring after only four-minutes. However, ahead of Saturday's game to Manchester United (KO 5.30pm) the Baggies boss has told his players they must be focused from the first whistle to the last.

The Albion chief is under no illusions of the task his side face on the back of consecutive victories over Middlesbrough and Fulham but has urged his team to play their natural game and not be in ore of the European and Premiership champions.

"You hope to learn from every experience and I'm pretty sure the players will take certain aspects of that game (Arsenal) into this one," Mowbray said.

"The bottom line is that you can feel the quality of the opposition on the field, as we did against Fulham.

"It will be even greater at Manchester United but it's no good standing back and admiring it.

"You have to go and compete."

He added: "Ultimately what changed at Arsenal was that we stopped standing back and we did try to get in amongst them and make some challenges and tackles.

"We didn't withdraw into our shell every time they got the ball and I think you have to do that at Old Trafford.

"We have to compete and not sit back, waiting for them to attack us.

"We've got to try to take it off them and get our own game going."