Boss: Clubs will be looking over shoulders now

WEST Brom’s survival rivals will be paying close attention as their polished display and emphatic victory over Southampton ensured they have knitted two Premier League victories together for the first time this season.

It was an apt follow-up to the rout at Chelsea nine days earlier, and though this past week – following Newcastle United’s win at Burnley – hasn’t allowed them to reduce the gap to 17th any further, the manner of their performances will keep the Magpies and Fulham looking over their shoulders, boss Sam Allardyce claims.

“They are two wins that are pricking people’s ears up – people are saying ‘look how good West Brom have got,’” he reasoned. “Look at what players they have got, look at the football they are playing, look at the finishing they are producing now.

“Based on the fall of the fixtures, if we had played Southampton on Friday night and beaten them 3-0, that would have put added pressure on. The pressure came on us because Newcastle won.

“After beating Chelsea last weekend, you can understand why Newcastle winning could knock the players. They could be thinking we have to go again just to get it down to eight.

“We have got it down to eight again but games are running out.”

Eight goals and six points in the space of two matches is a remarkable return considering the form which went before.

“It’s one of many top-quality performances over the last eight or 10 games,” he analysed. “Before that, because we hadn’t won the games we should have won.

“We have had many outstanding performances but too many times there hasn’t been three points at the end of it.”