West Bromwich Albion midfielder Craig Gardner has said that the team's recent victory over Aston Villa has brought the whole club back together and provided them with a platform to build on.

The former Villa player grabbed the game's only goal at The Hawthorns to clinch all three points, with the 28-year-old suggesting that the victory will help to rouse the club into pushing forward during the winter period.

"We knew if we won the local derby it would catapult us up the league, get everyone back on side, get the fans back on side, because we need the fans, we need everyone at the club," said Gardner, according to the Daily Mail.

"We got the whole team, the whole club back together. This win can have a really galvanising effect, definitely.

"The fans, seeing the work rate we are putting in, seeing we are not hiding. It is a platform to build on. It's four points from two games and we can really push on now."

The win sees Alan Irvine and his men sitting in 14th position in the Premier League table.