MOUR POWER FOR PULIS

JOSE MOURINHO was in no doubt when he said: “If I needed a boss to keep my club in the Premier League, I would go for Tony Pulis.”

Difficult to argue with that on the evidence so far at West Brom.

Pulis (right) is a master at working within a budget when it comes to player recruitment. Loan deals or permanent moves, few are more shrewd or aware of the market than the Welshman. Grzegorz Krychowiak was an inspired loan signing from Paris Saint-germain.

While other Premier League clubs dithered about landing the Poland star, Pulis acted. Then there is Gareth Barry – the record Premier League appearance holder and a proven top pro.

Kieran Gibbs could have settled for an easy life as an Arsenal squad player, but wanted the challenge of first-team football. And fellow new recruit Jay Rodriguez is a menace up front. The result? No one looks forward to playing Albion. Pulis has taken Gerry Francis with him wherever he goes and he has done a sterling job organising the Baggies’ defence. Even in defeat at Arsenal recently, Albion were unfortunate. Rodriguez should have won a penalty when the match was evenly poised. The Baggies will survive and their fans would relish an FA Cup run to add spice to the season.

What’s gone right? Quite a lot. Albion are a powerful unit who provide opposition that no one wants to face.

What’s gone wrong? A few lapses in concentration which cost them against Brighton and Watford.