Sam Allardyce: It’s a hairy time being West Brom boss
Boss Sam Allardyce has told his players they have to start keeping clean sheets if they are to secure survival – and also prevent him from going bald.
The Baggies have the worst defensive record in the Premier League having conceded a staggering 43 goals in their 19 games so far.
Albion have looked more defensively secure in their last two outings against Wolves and West Ham. But individual errors have ensured they have still conceded twice in each of those games.
Allardyce is continuing to work to strengthen his squad both in defence and going forward with the 66-year-old known to want to sign a defender and a defensive midfielder. But he is also determined to make sure his current defenders improve – for two very different reasons.
“There is one thing I don’t want to happen by the end of the season – and that’s to lose my hair and go bald, which I will do if we keep conceding sloppy goals,”Allardyce joked.
“I’m worrying about it that much.
“I’m trying my best to say to the lads that without getting a clean sheet we are not going to get out of trouble. You look at our goals against, we have conceded more than anyone else by far.
“We went to an in-form West Ham, David Moyes is picking up points there because the goal we scored against them was the first goal he has conceded in four.
“Manchester City have shot up the league because they have got the best clean sheet record.
“They have probably won more games 1-0 or 2-0 than anyone else.
“It happens at the top and it’s got to happen at the bottom if we are going to stay up. We have got to put that right more than anything else.
“I can sign more players, yes. That will help us. But the clean sheet record has to get much better.”
