MX23RW : Sunday, May 26 22:48:38| >> :600:485205:485205:

Sam Allardyce "really challenging" West Brom to build on Man United draw

The Baggies, who are 12 points adrift of safety in 19th place in the Premier League, drew 1-1 with United at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

West Brom boss Sam Allardyce has challenged his players to produce another "quality" performance this weekend against Burnley to show that the effort last time out did not come "just because it was Manchester United".

The Baggies, who are 12 points adrift of safety in 19th place in the Premier League, drew 1-1 with United at the Hawthorns on Sunday, leading through an early Mbaye Diagne goal before Bruno Fernandes' 44th-minute equaliser.

While Allardyce feels frustration that Albion did not win that contest, he has praised the display his side delivered.

West Brom now take on Burnley away on Saturday, then host Brighton and Newcastle before travelling to Crystal Palace – teams currently lying 15th, 16th, 17th and 14th respectively.

And Allardyce said: "I'm looking forward to the 90 minutes of quality that we can give, as we gave 90 minutes of quality against Manchester United.

"I'm really challenging the players – it's not going to be a performance that high, is it, just because it was Manchester United?

"That's my challenge to them – this performance you gave against Manchester United has to happen against Burnley on Saturday, it has to be just as good, and sometimes if possible even better. That's the challenge to the players."

He added: "I want to see if we're proactive by the way we play, the level of performance we play against Burnley.

"And that will indicate to me whether we can only play to that level if we play one of the bigger sides and not one of the sides that's in and around us – that for me would be a massive disappointment, if that happens on Saturday."

West Brom have won only one of 11 league games since Allardyce succeeded Slaven Bilic in December, and none of their last six.

That has included a 2-2 draw with 18th-placed Fulham on January 30 and a 2-1 loss to rock-bottom Sheffield United three days later – both games in which they had the lead.

Regarding the Manchester United match, Allardyce – who brought in five signings in the January transfer window, including Diagne – said: "We should have beaten them. We had the better chances in the second half.

"But at least we are getting there, because at least we didn't give silly goals away, and at least we are getting chances to score goals.

"Perhaps I'm asking for too much too soon, I don't know. But I've got to keep driving the players forward and say 'take full advantage of the opportunities you get', because we need to, because we need to start winning."

ID:435886: cacheID:435886:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3980:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce pictured on February 7, 2021
Read Next:
Sam Allardyce: 'We are almost in a must-win situation'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!