Tony Pulis says Nacer Chadli brings 'quality' to the West Brom line-up

By Mark Crellin

Saturday 1 October 2016 19:41, UK

West Brom manager Tony Pulis paid tribute to Nacer Chadli after the Belgian's third goal for the Baggies earned a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

However, Pulis lamented the fact his side were unable to add to the lead Chadli gave them in the 35th minute, leaving them vulnerable to a possible equaliser - which duly arrived with just seven minutes left.

Chadli arrived from Spurs for £13m back in August and, having bagged a brace in a 4-2 win over West Ham, he produced another classy finish here.

Asked what the Belgian international brings to the club, Pulis said: "Quality, especially in the final third.

"That is what we need. Everybody says, we are pretty well organised, and the lads work very hard.

"When we get up into that final third, at this level, you need what Chadli brings us, he has got that real quality."

West Brom had chances to add to their lead but could not take them and struggling Sunderland levelled late on, thanks to Patrick van Aanholt's strike.

"We needed a second goal," said Pulis.

"If you come to a place like this, I think a second goal would have killed them off and killed the crowd off.

"Full compliments to the crowd, I thought the crowd were fantastic at times today for them.

"They got behind them and obviously the goal is a little bit fortuitous, he has kicked it into the ground.

"But we had enough chances. I think we got 21 crosses in and 18 shots today, so we needed that second goal and that would have killed it for us.

"I am very, very pleased with the players. The running stats are very, very good, the stats going forward are good, but the big thing is that final third."

Nonetheless, Pulis is happy enough with the solid start his side have made to the season.

"We're 10th [actually ninth]," he added."Doing somersaults!"