Poyet: Phillips was too expensive for us (From The Argus)

Poyet: Phillips was too expensive for us

10:00am Sunday 17th March 2013 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Kevin Phillips celebrates after scoring for Blackpool against Albion last season

Albion boss Gus Poyet has revealed the Seagulls could not afford to sign Kevin Phillips.

Poyet wanted the veteran marksman two summers ago, after Albion were promoted to the Championship, but Phillips went to Blackpool instead and is now reunited with Ian Holloway at today's derby rivals Crystal Palace.

The 39-year-old scored twice for Blackpool in both league clashes with Albion last season and has hit five in his last seven outings for Palace, including a hat-trick against Hull.

Poyet said: "He always scores against us. We tried to sign him. We had a great meeting with him, we couldn't afford him, that's the difference, so the day we have the chance to sign players like Kevin Phillips we are going to be a better club and football team."

Palace are nine points above the Albion in the race for promotion.

Poyet said: "I think they've got a group of players that have been playing together for a while with the addition of a manager that likes to play many forwards, so you need to manage that situation and take advantage of the weakness.

"You cannot do everything well in football, have too many offensive players that don't like to defend and then try to defend properly, so you need to be smart, organised and take your chances.

"They have been winning games in the last two or three weeks without totally deserving to win. The goalkeeper has been outstanding. Speroni has been one of the key players. We know Glenn (Murray) has been scoring for fun, so they have got key players that you need to try to stop having the best of days, then you have got a better chance."