ESCAPE BAGG ON
SAM ALLARDYCE and his West Brom players can still beat the drop after their shock result at Chelsea last week – but they HAVE to win against Southampton tomorrow night.
That’s the verdict of Baggies legend Richard Sneekes, who knows all about tense relegation battles after his West Brom side’s great escape on the final day of what is now the Championhip in 1999-2000.
Sneekes was stunned by West Brom’s 5-2 win at Stamford Bridge and feels that result has breathed fresh hope into their bid to beat the drop.
“Before Chelsea I thought it was all over,” Sneekes (below) told the Daily Star Sunday.
“After the Newcastle game (a month ago) I thought it was all over for us. They’re down there with us and to not get the three points was a blow.
“But give Big Sam and the players credit, they deserved the three points against Chelsea.
“Nobody gave them a chance but Sam’s brought better organisation and his new signings have improved the team, especially (Mbaye) Diagne and (Okay)
Yokuslu.
“To be fair Sam couldn’t get his players in till the end of January and then they had to bed in. While they are still up against it, there is a glimmer of hope.
“But they really must beat Saints. A draw is no good. If we win, we have Leicester and a couple of local derbies coming up against Villa and Wolves and anything can happen in a derby.
“But it really does come down to the Southampton game to see if we can carry on to some sort of great escape.”
Sneekes scored on the final day in 2000 when they beat Charlton to stay up by three points, so he knows all about relegation tension.
“I left the pitch that day with one sock and my underpants as our fans pretty much looted me, but the relief was incredible.
“It’s not nice being in a relegation battle but the players just need to focus on their games and let the results take care of themselves
– if that’s possible.”