Sunday 18 October 2015

Pulis Promises McClean Chat


West Brom manager Tony Pulis says he will speak to winger James McClean if he thinks the wide man was to blame for a post-match melee which marred the win over Sunderland.

The Baggies secured a crucial 1-0 win over the Black Cats thanks to a second-half goal from Saido Berahino.

And former Sunderland man McClean provoked anger among the visiting players when he celebrated in front of the away fans at the end of the match.

McClean has claimed he was hung out to dry by Sunderland following his refusal to wear a Remembrance Day poppy in 2012.

And the Republic of Ireland international, who left Sunderland in 2013, was jeered by the visiting fans throughout the game.

He was confronted by Danny Graham and Lee Cattermole after his post-match celebrations, sparking a fracas involving players from both sides.

Pulis did not see the brawl and said: "Let me have a look at it first.

"I'd heard a roar or whatever and didn't know whether the players were involved in something.

"If he's out of order, I'll speak to him.

"He played really well today, James. He's settled in really well and is a smashing lad. The lads have really taken to him.

"He's not the sharpest tool in the box, and that's not being disrespectful to him. But he's a smashing lad."

Victory moved Albion seven points clear of the drop zone and Pulis preferred to focus on that aspect of the afternoon.

"I think the win was more important than anything else today," he said.

"And I thought, second-half, we played a lot better than we did first-half. We had gone away from getting clean sheets, so to get a clean sheet was good."

And Pulis also thought it was important to secure a first home league win of the campaign. 

"We played really well against Everton for 58 minutes, conceded a goal, and then went to pieces," he said. "We were 2-0 up and then conceded three goals, which was a real kick in the stomach.

"We needed a win, that is what we have got today, and hopefully that will give the lads confidence playing out here."


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