Saturday 10 January 2015 21:42, UK
West Brom manager Tony Pulis admits there is still room for improvement from his side after their 1-0 win at home to Hull City.
Victory gave Pulis a winning start to his Premier League reign at the Hawthorns, but the new manager believes his side can still do better.
The hosts squandered chances to the break the deadlock in the first half, with Brown Ideye wasting the best of them by firing wide when one-on-one with Allan McGregor.
“When you get opportunities and chances like that you have to take them,” Pulis said.
“At times we did play through them quite comfortably, but there are lots of things where we have to improve all over the pitch, we know that.
“Great result, clean sheet and three points, so can’t ask for any more than that, BUT we have to do better.”
Ideye was substituted in the second half without scoring, meaning he has only found the net twice in 14 appearances for the Baggies.
While the 26-year-old has struggled to make an impact since his £10million arrival from Dynamo Kiev in the summer, Pulis remains confident the striker’s form will improve.
“He needs a break and that is not doing what he did today and sticking the ball in the back of the net.
“He looks sharp around the pitch and caused the two centre-halves problems, getting up the sides of them and in between them three or four times today.
“He worked the line well and Berahino played well off him… but the kid needs a goal.”
West Brom are up to 14th in the Premier League table, two points clear of the relegation zone, but Pulis is calling on the club's supporters to help them stay in the top-flight.
“What we’ve got to do is make sure that all of the supporters understand we’re in a sticky period.
“We’ve got to make this a community club and a community base club. That’s very important for not just for myself but for the team.
“The team have got to give them something back, but they (the fans) have to be patient in these last 17 games and really get behind the boys.”
