TOO SERIOUS FOR MINDGAMES WITH MOURINHO
SAM ALLARDYCE says wobbling West Brom’s position is so serious he has not even got time for trash talk with old foe Jose Mourinho.
Big Sam says his struggling Baggies are short of a few things – and time is the most important one. Just one point from two key games against fellow strugglers Fulham and Sheffield United, combined with sides above the drop zone pulling off shock results, has served to turn up the heat.
West Brom are now 10 points adrift of safety and being written off as lost causes by the bookies.
Allardyce hopes an injection of new players can spark some kind of response but admits things need to pick up quickly.
He has had more than the odd verbal joust with Mourinho over the years but says tomorrow’s clash at Tottenham is not about the two of them.
Allardyce said: “We are running out of time. We haven’t been able to capitalise on situations.
“The Premier League is the stage you want to be on – to pit your wits against the opposition.
“But this game isn’t about what I’m doing against Jose or he’s doing against me.
“We’ve got to see how Tottenham react to their recent form and, in turn, try to play our best to try to get something.
“We have to try to find some of the kind of form that the likes of Brighton have achieved.
“They’ve had something like 15 games at home without winning and then pop up with results against Tottenham and Liverpool.
“We have to try to find a period where we can play like that. But that has to start as quickly as possible because time isn’t on our side. The distance between us and the teams above the safety mark is getting greater and we’re putting ourselves under increasing pressure.”
Allardyce (right) looks set to throw Ainsley MaitlandNiles straight into battle after convincing the on-loan Arsenal star to join the Baggies’ rescue mission.
The Albion boss added: “He’s desperate to play and can definitely give us more as a team.
“One of the reasons he chose us was because we’re playing him in his favoured position (central midfield).”