Shan to use Champions League comebacks as inspiration in West Brom play-off bid

West Brom caretaker boss Jimmy Shan will draw on Champions League inspiration to get the Baggies to Wembley. Albion trail 2-1 after imploding late on in the second half of Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship semi-final first leg at Aston Villa. The hosts scored twice in 202 seconds through Conor Hourihane and Tammy Abraham’s penalty to cancel out Dwight Gayle’s opener. They host their local rivals at The Hawthorns on Tuesday also without suspended 24-goal striker Gayle after his late red card at Villa Park. But, after Liverpool and Tottenham’s improbable Champions League semi-final comebacks against Barcelona and Ajax last week, Shan knows the Baggies can recover. He said: “Those two games were teams that were out of sight. We’re only a goal behind. “There are lots of positives that we can take and build into the game on Tuesday evening and that’s what we will do. “The boys are very positive that we can be a bit more creative and positive at times and we need to take the game to Aston Villa. “That’s what they did for the first 15 minutes against us and we weathered the storm because the momentum and atmosphere in the crowd were very good. “That’s the approach we need on Tuesday.” Villa won a club record 10 straight games in their final 12 outings to leap into the play-offs. They are favourites going into Tuesday’s clash, having drawn 2-2 at The Hawthorns earlier in the season. But boss Dean Smith has warned them not to take victory for granted. He said: “The players will know from me and the staff that nothing is over. We’ve got to go there and put in a really good performance. “I didn’t feel it was a good performance on Saturday. I feel there were a few players who performed below their normal standards. If we play to our normal standards we’ll be a right threat. “Our mindset for the last 14 games has been to go into it and try to win. We’ve been very good at that, and we’re getting used to winning too, which is important.” Topics Aston Villa, West Brom, Dean Smith, Dwight Gayle, Jack Grealish, Championship, Aston Villa, West Brom Baggies pay the penalty as Aston Villa edge first leg Abraham in awe of captain Grealish as play-offs hot up Smith hails Grealish ‘quality’ but demands more from Villa Dean Smith adamant West Brom are favourites in play-off clash Riyad Mahrez determined to establish himself with champions Manchester City Mellon hails Norwood for ‘absolute cracker’ that sends Tranmere into play-off final Kearney hails St Mirren patience as they take relegation battle to final day Lessons learned and strong team bond will drive on Liverpool – Robertson Watch: Referee Mike Dean celebrates wildly as Tranmere progress in play-offs Farewell, Daniel Sturridge? How the true one-season wonder became a distant relic at Liverpool 8 players from this season’s relegated teams who deserve a Premier League move this summer Barcelona ready to challenge Tottenham Hotspur for Ajax youngster Quiz! Can you name the 28 players with most fouls in the Premier League this season? Transfer rumours: New Premier League destination for Barcelona flop Philippe Coutinho?