Pulis feels ref’s taking the Michael

WEST BROM

WEST BROM manager Tony Pulis was so incensed that he could not even bring himself to call referee Michael Oliver by his first name.

Pulis was furious that Richarlison’s headed equaliser from a free-kick came in the 95th minute of Saturday’s game when the board had shown only four minutes extra.

“It’s very, very hard to take,” he said. “And the challenge which led to the free-kick was a good tackle. Oliver sees it perfectly – he’s 10 yards away. James McClean plays the ball.”

Jose Holebas duly swung the free-kick into a crammed box and there was Richarlison to get Watford out of jail.

Baggies skipper Jonny Evans said: “It’s gutting to concede a goal right at the end, especially as we pride ourselves on our defence.

“It was all a bit chaotic in the box. We didn’t get ourselves organised and set, and that’s something we’ll have to address.

“Their keeper came up too and that throws an extra spanner in the works. We couldn’t quite get things organised and, before you know it, it’s in the back of the net.”

Holebas put the result down to Watford’s never-say-die approach and the team spirit in their dressing room.

He said: “We believe in never giving up, like it should be. It should have been last year like this and in the two years I’ve been here, but there was a different feeling.

“But it comes automatically when you start winning or you draw and it comes by itself, you start believing.”

West Brom paid the price for not killing off the game after having the Hornets on the rack.

Salomon Rondon got the home side off to a good start with an 18th-minute goal – his first of the season – and Evans nodded home a few minutes later to put Albion 2-0 up.

The impressive Abdoulaye Doucoure got one back shortly before half-time and then came the late escape for the Hornets.

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Booked: Goals: WATFORD (4-3-3):