Saturday 11 March 2017 15:07, UK
Tony Pulis says West Brom must change their mentality and aim higher than Premier League survival.
The Baggies are looking for their best league finish since 2013 but Pulis believes a focus on simply securing their top-flight status remains "part of the club's DNA".
They currently sit eighth in the table on 40 points, four behind seventh-placed Everton, and with 11 games remaining could reach 50 points for the first time in their Premier League history.
Pulis' side found themselves in a similar position last season having reached 39 points after a 1-0 victory over Manchester United on March 6.
But they failed to win another league game and picked up just four more points, eventually slumping to a 14th-place finish.
The West Brom boss insists his side must avoid complacency this year to avoid a repeat performance.
"We finished last year with 40 points pretty early and we fell away," Pulis told Soccer Saturday. "The problem at this club, and at other clubs too, is that the DNA is, 'Let's stay in the Premier League'.
"That's our aim and it's about getting that mentality out of the players and out of the football club and to try to embrace a situation where once you get there, next you drive on.
"Fingers crossed we can get them there this year."
West Brom have not achieved a top-seven finish in the top flight since 1981 but a victory at Everton on Saturday would close the gap on Ronald Koeman's side to one point.
Pulis admits he has been very pleased with his team so far despite a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to former club Crystal Palace last weekend.
"We are delighted with the way things have panned out," he added. "I don't think we did ourselves justice last Saturday but the one thing that you have to do in this game, and especially in this league, is bounce back. You can't get too bogged down with bad defeats.
"Everton are managed by a top manager and top person. I have a lot of respect for Ronald for what he did at Southampton and what he's doing at Everton.
"We know it will be a tough game but it's one of my favourite grounds. I love going to Goodison Park. It's absolutely fantastic, it's a proper old-fashioned football ground.
"The players will have to be up for it because if not they will blow us apart."
West Brom signed Jake Livermore from Hull City and Marc Wilson from Bournemouth on loan in January, while Saido Berahino departed for Stoke.
"It's a small group, it's a very close group," he continued. "Marc Wilson comes in on loan and that makes it 17 players.
"Sometimes that can be a strength and not a weakness because you are allowed 25 senior players in your squad and some of the players, if they are not playing, can be difficult to manage.
"I have had 25 in a squad before and sometimes it is difficult to maintain that togetherness you need.
"It will be interesting to see how the back end of this season goes because we have done exceptionally well and what we have to do is try to maintain that.
"We have used the players on a more regular basis than most clubs so it will be interesting to see if they can keep the tempo up and keep winning football matches."
Watch the full interview with Tony Pulis on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12pm.
