Cedric Kipre: West Bromwich Albion defender believes his fine form is carry-on from Cardiff spell

Cedric Kipre's second goal of the season was the ninth of his career

West Bromwich Albion's Cedric Kipre says his fine form for the promotion-chasing Baggies this season is a carry-on from last term's loan with fellow Championship side Cardiff City.

The Ivory Coast defender has helped the Baggies shape one of the meanest defences in this season's second tier.

Only the current top two Leicester City and Leeds United have shipped fewer goals than Albion's 31 in 33 games.

"It is the continuity from last season," Kipre told BBC Radio WM.

"I had a great season at Cardiff and, when I came back to the club, I was full of confidence.

"Also, the manager phoned me in the summer and told me he trusted me and that gave me an extra boost.

"So it is just a continuity and I hope it carries on again next season - and we still have a lot of big games this season too."

Albion's Tuesday night triumph at Plymouth was only their fifth away league win of the season - and it was Kipre's close-range second-half strike that set the Baggies on their way after a fruitless first hour.

"Another clean sheet, goals, a 3-0 win, everyone's happy," he said.

"As a centre-back it is important to score goals from set-pieces and I'm happy to have chipped in.

"It is a very important win. Our form away has not been the best but this gives us a lot of confidence going into some important games."

Three of fifth-placed Albion's next four games are away, starting with Hull City this Saturday then a Friday night home derby with promotion rivals Coventry City before two trips to struggling pair QPR and Huddersfield Town in the space of five days.

Albion will know by then the seriousness of the hamstring injury which forced top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante to miss the trip to Home Park. The 10-goal striker was due to undergo a second scan on Wednesday.

Cedric Kipre was talking to BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon