POTTER: I’VE GOT BAGGS OF RESPECT FOR BIG SAM

Championship: 3pm JAMES NURSEY

WEST BROM v BRIGHTON The Hawthorns: 3pm

GRAHAM POTTER admits Sam Allardyce has been an inspiration to him as a coach.

That may come as a surprise to those who see the West Brom boss as purely a long-ball advocate – whereas Potter’s Brighton are a neat short-passing team.

But Potter (above), whose side meet Big Sam’s team today in a relegation six-pointer, insists his rival is far more than just a survivor.

Brighton travel to the Hawthorns on the back of a demoralising stoppage-time defeat by Crystal Palace that plunged them right back into the relegation mire.

They lie just four points above the bottom three, while the Baggies are in deep trouble, 11 points from safety, and simply have to win.

Potter said: “I used to look up to Sam when I was a young coach.

“You’re looking at a man with fantastic experience at the highest level. He’s worked at a lot of clubs in the

Premier League.

“His Bolton team was a really exciting side, with players like Jay-jay Okocha. They played really attacking, effective football.

“You can’t have the career Sam has had without being incredibly competent.

“I have the utmost respect for people with that longevity. Just to survive in this game, you have to respect that.

“But Sam has not only survived, he’s improved his teams, improved the players and won matches.

“When people talk about coaching, to me, that’s it. There’s no right or wrong, there’s no, ‘My way’s better or worse than anybody else’s’. It’s, ‘Have you got a way and do you make it work?’ The answer with

Sam’s teams is yes.”

Asked why Allardyce does not get more respect for his work, Potter added: “He has huge respect from me. You look at the guy’s career and what he’s done over a period of time. That’s not a trend, that’s a quality of work.

That’s why football people have huge respect for Sam.”

MARK ROBINS reckons his Coventry side must be calmer in the final third to stay up.

The promoted Sky Blues have won just once in seven games and former Manchester United star Robins said: “If we can calm our brains down in the final third and take our chances we’ll be ok.

“The chances have to be taken really quickly because the higher up the leagues you go you have to take those chances quicker. ”

The Sky Blues have welcomed Liam Kelly (above) back from injury and defender Sam Mccallum said: “With it being the first season back in the Championship it is hard not having a full squad but we have dealt with it well.”

VELJKO PAUNOVIC is backing his Reading side to turn things around after their awful run.

The Royals’ play-off bid is in doubt after four losses in five – including a 1-0 loss at Wycombe on Tuesday.

They are two points above Bournemouth in seventh ahead of the trip to Rotherham.

But Paunovic (above) said: “We’re in a bad stretch right now. But I know we’re going to bounce back.

“Mentality is built and has to be nourished. We built mentality at the start of the season and have to nourish it.”