Tony Pulis plays down West Brom progress after Premier League win at Southampton
Sunday 1 January 2017 10:26, UK
Tony Pulis says he will only get excited about West Brom's position in the Premier League if they're still high up at the end of the season.
The Hawthorns side moved back up to eighth with their third away win of the season as goals from Matt Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu gave them a 2-1 success at Southampton.
Everton are a point ahead of them in seventh and sixth-placed Manchester United are a further nine points ahead.
Pulis refused to get too elated, despite their impressive season, and said: "We've got a long way to go. Don't talk about it halfway through - let's see what we're like at the back end of it.
"We're very pleased. Southampton are a good side and it's a great club. They've done fantastic as a club over the last eight years and it's great to come here and win.
"But we've got to move on and we've got a big game against Hull on Monday and that's going to be tough.
"In the first half, I thought we were shocking. We were so far off the pace of the game. They got the goal, deservedly for the way they were on top, then we scored a good goal just before half-time.
"It's lifted us and in the second half, I thought we played really well and deserved to win the game. We're really pleased because in the second half we played with a lot more purpose.
"I don't know if it was because our flight was cancelled last night and we had to come down here by bus [that we had a slow start] and it took us four and a half or five hours.
"Whether that was still in their legs or not I don't know but we were definitely chalk and cheese today - poor in the first half, very good in the second."
Robson-Kanu's goal was his first in West Brom colours and it came on his first start for the club after 13 substitute appearances.
It was a strike to remember too as he sent a stunning rising drive from 20 yards into Fraser Forster's top corner after being set up by fellow scorer Phillips.
Pulis added: "It's a smashing strike. It's a great ball from Matty with a reverse pass and he took his first goal as well with aplomb.
"Salomon (Rondon) works his socks off. He's a real, real solider in lots of respects but he was a little bit down in training this week and we felt it was the right time to give him a rest.
"Now I've got a problem for Monday now over who I'll start with. Hal's been very good at the football club and when he has come on, he's been excellent."
As well as the forthcoming trip to Hull, Pulis now also turns his attentions to the January transfer window but maintains he will only sign players who can make a difference to his team.
He said: "The club has said we can bring players in. What we've got to do is bring players in of quality who will improve the first XI.
"That's what we're trying to do but that's not easy, especially for a club of our stature, but we'll do our best."
