Hodgson backs Albion’s survival chances
ALAN Pardew would not have picked Albion as his next project if he didn’t believe there was enough quality at the club to beat the drop.
After 11 months out of the game, Pardew answered the call from the Baggies’ board following the dismissal of Tony Pulis.
The new head coach was encouraged by the endeavour of his players in Saturday’s draw with Crystal Palace – the club which relieved him of his duties last year. The result did, however, extend Albion’s winless run to 13 games, for only the third time in the Premier League era.
It also kept them 17th in the table – just one win clear of Palace and West Ham United in the drop zone. But the display was, for Pardew, further evidence there is enough ability within the playing staff for West Brom to move away from trouble.
“I wouldn’t come if I didn’t think the team was good enough to stay in the division,” he said. “Of course, we’ve got to prove it.
“We showed signs, with a lot of big players missing, that were really encouraging.
“It would have been lovely y to g get the three ee points. We haven’t got them. We’ve got to keep fighting for that hat first win, because I think that’s going to be important ant to us that it comes sooner rather than later.”
Roy Hodgson, Pardew’s ’s opposite number r on Saturday, also feels Albion have enough talent to move clear of danger. So much h so, he doesn’t even direct rivals. “I don’t see them really as relegation candidates,” Hodgson said of his former club. “I think there are teams further up p the table who, , come May, might find them themselves in a more difficult diffi position than W West Bromwich Albion Albion. “The club has real quality players pla and an exp experienced manager who w I am sure will ge get on well with the players pla and help them out.” o Hodgson Hodgso is still revered by Albion fans for f steering the club a away from the bot- consider Albion as tom three in the 2010/11 campaign and then to tenth the following season before taking on the England manager’s job.
Hence the reception he received from both sets of fans at The Hawthorns.
“I had a year-and-a-half at Albion, a very good year-and-a-half,” he said. “I had terrific backing from everybody, the club, the players were fantastic and the supporters were fantastic.
“It is nice when you come back that people remember, although six or seven years have gone by, that this guy once worked with us, we liked him and he did a good job.
“They showed that and in this difficult world of football we find ourselves in you take every little pat on the back you can.
“It was unusual to get both sets of fans applauding you.”