‘Damning verdict’ – Paul Merson destroys West Brom stars for unforgivable display
Paul Merson has slammed West Brom for not working hard enough in their 2-0 defeat to Fulham.
Talking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (2pm) Merson was asked what he made of the performance that saw the Baggies drop into the bottom three.
“It’s a hard one,” said Merson. “They were that bad and it was a cup final for me that game.
“When the game finished you sat there and thought Fulham can get out of this. Now weeks ago you’d have thought they were down.
“Everyone loses football matches. We’ve seen Liverpool lose football matches. It’s how you lose them and that’s the worrying thing for West Brom.
“No one showed any heart… you’re playing in the top league, the ultimate league in the whole world.
“You’ve got to stay in it. They fought so hard to get in the league, then you’ve got to show that fight.
“Okay, some of the players might not be good enough, but the thing they can do is work hard. If Liverpool can work hard, why can’t West Brom work hard?
“That’s the damning verdict.”
Slaven Bilic has spent the week laying into the West Brom players calling for them to be more “streetwise” and “dirty”.
He needs a big reaction if he’s going to get anything from the next two games, against Spurs and Man United.
If you look at the first goal conceded, the defenders let Fulham have two uncontested touches in the box.
If you do that, you’re going to concede goals in the Premier League. The two West Brom defenders didn’t even get off the ground and gave Bobby Decordova-Reid a free header.
This is what was so disappointing and Merson has got it spot on.
West Brom will lose games but they have to show the fans that they’re giving 100%.
If they can’t give that to play in the Premier League then they don’t deserve to be at The Hawthorns.
In other news, West Brom plot ‘shock move’ for 43y/o manager as Bilic clings on – report