Character needed in last two games - Lamela

Erik Lamela underlined his faith in our team after Saturday’s late loss at West Brom, insisting: “We have to win both remaining games but we can do it.”

Jake Livermore’s injury-time goal kept the Baggies’ hopes of staying up alive for a little while longer and delivered a body-blow to our bid to secure a top four finish at the earliest opportunity.

Attacking midfielder Erik admitted he was angry about the manner of the defeat at The Hawthorns but nevertheless backed the team to beat Newcastle United and Leicester City at Wembley over the next week – results which would rubber-stamp a third successive season in the Champions League.

“We have to win both games, at home especially, to finish the season well, but I think we can do it,” he said. “In four days we have another game and this is good because we don’t have to wait too much after the defeat, but we have to finish the season well because the team deserves it.

“Always we have to show character, in every game, and the last two games at home, in front of our people, we have to win both to make them happy and also for us.”

It was certainly one of those days on a hot afternoon at Albion, with the home side always a threat from set-pieces and clear chances for us in short supply.

Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster denied Victor Wanyama and Harry Kane but there was no way through and the stadium erupted when Livermore scored in the 92nd minute.

“It was a difficult afternoon. I don't know what to say because we came here to win the game but unfortunately we lost to a goal at the end.

“We tried to put all the effort into winning the game, they just defended all the time and it was so difficult to score a goal because they were so close at the back. We tried many times to score but we knew that if we don't open the game, at the end it's more difficult because they believed when the game was ending.”

We return to action against Newcastle at Wembley on Wednesday night, kick-off 8pm.