Tony Pulis says West Brom were really flat during the first half of their loss to QPR

West Brom boss Tony Pulis reckons Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at home to QPR was a rude awakening for his side.

The Baggies have been steadily climbing the Premier League table since Pulis was hired and, having reached 33 points, it was suggested that they were probably safe from the drop.

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However, the head coach says they have work to do to ensure their safety after enduring a miserable afternoon at The Hawthorns.

Pulis was particularly critical of his side’s first-half display, during which they fell 3-0 behind, partly due to a phenomenal goal from Bobby Zamora.

Albion were better after the break and Victor Anichebe pulled one back, but they squandered chances to make it 3-2 and the game was up when Youssouf Mulumbu was shown a late red card.

Pulis said: “We were very poor first half, really flat. We powder-puffed our way through 45 minutes of Premier League football.

“They scored good goals, Bobby’s goal is a fantastic goal.

He has not pulled his elbow back and tried to elbow him in the face, but he has led with his hand. I think it looks a lot worse than it is.

“But, just before they scored, Brown (Ideye) had a great chance, a header at the back post. And then our defending was poor today.

“Second half, we get the goal. We needed another goal to put pressure on them and, unfortunately, we did not take the chances that came our way.”

Pulis felt QPR’s clinching goal should not have stood and also thought Mulumbu was a little unlucky to receive a straight red card, apparently for elbowing Joey Barton.

“Their fourth goal shouldn’t have been a goal, (Gareth) McAuley had his feet taken from under him,” said Pulis.

“And obviously the sending-off affected us a bit as well, because we had missed some great chances to make it 3-2.

“He has not pulled his elbow back and tried to elbow him in the face, but he has led with his hand. I think it looks a lot worse than it is.”

Regarding West Brom’s position in the table, Pulis added: “You can’t stop people from outside thinking it is all over, that is the way the media works.

“And, unfortunately, players today are so attached to the media, to social networks, they start believing that is the truth.

“What you have to do is make sure you continue to work as hard as we have been doing. We got a rude awakening today, we haven't got over the line by a mile yet.”