Tony Pulis makes plea for calm at West Brom-Aston Villa derby
Friday 18 September 2015 14:55, UK
West Brom manager Tony Pulis hopes both sets of supporters will be on their best behaviour when he takes his side to face Aston Villa on Saturday after crowd trouble marred their FA Cup clash last season.
The sides met in a league and FA Cup double-header at Villa Park towards the end of last term, with the home team coming out on top on both occasions.
There was trouble in the cup clash, however, with Villa eventually being fined £200,000 by the FA after home fans twice invaded the pitch.
Seats were also reportedly thrown from the away section, as Pulis claimed he feared for his players' safety during the invasion.
Villa manager Tim Sherwood has already called on supporters to stay in their seats this weekend regardless of the outcome of the match, while his Albion counterpart, who expects to have Jonny Evans fit following a dead leg, also wants any losing fans to show their character.
"Derby matches are derby matches, they are fantastic games to be involved in and wonderful occasions," Pulis said.
"The disappointing thing last year was the crowd trouble and I hope and pray both sets of supporters go there tomorrow and really respect football. That's what it's really about, two teams going head to head and giving it everything.
"Hopefully we'll have a great game, people will behave themselves and it does take a bit of character to stand up and walk away if you have lost. That's what people should do.
"I was disappointed in the reaction of some supporters because people should go there to enjoy the game and be big enough and man enough to accept if they win, lose or draw."
