West Brom boss Tony Pulis says Gus Poyet deserves respect

West Brom boss Tony Pulis is remaining indifferent on the issues concerning Gus Poyet and the Sunderland supporters, but claimed the Black Cats manager deserves respect.

The Baggies will be visiting the north east in high spirits after enjoying a 4-0 drubbing over West Ham in the FA Cup fifth round but the spotlight remains on Poyet’s recent tribulations in charge of Sunderland. 

The Uruguayan wrote an open letter on Thursday to Sunderland fans urging them to “stay positive and keep believing in what we started together last year.”

Pulis, who will be hoping to secure West Brom’s third straight win in Saturday’s game, would not be drawn on Poyet’s decision to communicate with the Sunderland supporters ahead of the game, but believes the Black Cats boss is a strong enough character to turn the situation around.

"Gus has got to do what Gus has got to do,” he said. "We are all different. What Gus does is up to Gus and you have got to give him the respect he deserves as a tremendous player, while he has coached and managed and done very well.

"He is straight as a die, whether you talk to him on the pitch or off it. He is a good football man, he knows the game. I have enjoyed his company when I have been with him.

What Gus does is up to Gus and you have got to give him the respect he deserves as a tremendous player, while he has coached and managed and done very well.

"He took Sunderland to a cup final last year, so he hasn't done too bad.

"The expectations are high up there and you have to live with that. It is a wonderful area - the North-East is a very passionate area for the clubs.

“Gus has been up there 18 months, two years, he will understand that now."

Pulis is expecting a tough battle when his side visits the Stadium of Light on Saturday, and will be bolstered by the return of Youssouf Mulumbu, who has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Baggies, who are two points above Sunderland in the league in 14th place, remain undefeated throughout February, without conceding a goal in their last two games.

Having cruised into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last weekend, West Brom look to be in good form, but the Baggies boss expects a closely-fought affair.

"We have watched them on two or three occasions," said Pulis. "We watched the QPR game and in the second half they could have scored two or three goals. They had a sloppy first half then Gus looked at that. They really pulled it together and if they had got the breaks they could have easily got a result.

"They are not far short of getting results. I have tremendous respect for Gus and that football club, so we will be prepared for what will be a tough battle."

The Baggies manager was quick to sing the praises of his revitalised West Brom side, and cited a growing confidence within the club as the reason behind their good run of form.

"They are a good group and I think it has shown in the results," he said. "They have shown they are prepared to work but we still need to do more.

"We certainly need to step it up again to make sure we get the points we need to stay in the Premier League.

"Everything is confidence. The team will do that by getting results. If the team are getting results continuously the confidence grows within the group and they believe in what you are trying to do. It spirals through there then."