Gus Poyet savoured an ugly Albion win – and kept his sights firmly on a play-off place.

Poyet’s men battled to a 1-0 success over Burnley today and are sixth in the Championship tonight.

Albion did not produce their usual fluent football but Poyet said: “It’s a different kind of nice feelings today.

“It is about not playing fantastic and not being in a very good day as a team technically but still winning the game somehow.

“During a season it is very important to know how to win somehow.

“We are on a very good run. We are playing well in a few games and not so well in a few and we are still on the run.

“It’s there for us. Can we hold in there and maintain that winning mentality and everything?

“If we do, we are going to be there for sure. It’s in our hands.”

Will Buckley missed the game through illness and Poyet opted against bringing skipper Gordon Greer back into the XI.

Greer replaced Vicente late on as Albion held on for the win.

Poyet added: “It was a game where we had to make very strong decisions and that makes you a better manager and a better team.

“I don’t think you have seen me make the change of Gordon in place of Vicente before.

“There are reasons and we thought it was the right time and the right game with the right people on the pitch.

“It finished well. Until then you don’t know if it’s the right decision.

“We explained to the players the reasons and it was important to see the game out.”