BRUCE IN CLEAN UP ACT PLEA

STEVE BRUCE has ordered West Brom to behave themselves as he plots a fifth promotion to the Premier League.

Veteran boss Bruce has led Birmingham and Hull up twice. He took over at The Hawthorns in February but could only steer Albion to 10th last term in a sorry season blighted by seven red cards – the joint highest in the league.

Darnell Furlong and Jake Livermore both received their marching orders twice, with reds under both Valerien Ismael and successor Bruce.

Bruce, 61, said: “It is something we have spoken about because it cost us dearly. There is a fine system in place.

“But in those games with the seven red cards we also never won. It hits you badly and there is the knock-on effect of missing games.

“We will improve on it, we have to. We will make sure it doesn’t happen. Our discipline cost us dearly last year. Mid-table for this club is not to be accepted.”

Bruce has been boosted by the return to fitness of £7million USA striker Daryl Dike, who only played two games after signing in January.

He has also recruited John Swift and Jed Wallace on free transfers from Reading and Millwall respectively and brought back Turkish midfielder Okay Yokuslu, who played for Albion previously in the Premier League.

Bruce said: “The one area we needed to improve on really was at the top end. Certainly in Swift and Wallace, they will give us extra going forwards.

“For me, they were the outstanding free transfers in the division. To get them both we have done extremely well.

“They know the division inside out and were the top targets of the club.”