Big Sam claims fixture schedule puts West Brom at a big disadvantage in relegation race
Sam Allardyce has hit out at the Premier League for the rescheduling of a key West Brom fixture in their battle to claim survival.
The Baggies boss needs all the help he can get at the moment with his struggling side desperate for points after picking up just one win in 12 league games since his December appointment.
But he has not found any friends at the Premier League after their clash with Everton was moved to Thursday March 4 due to the Blues’ FA Cup commitments – but this leaves Albion less than 72 hours to prepare for a crucial relegation clash with Newcastle United who will enjoy a full week’s break.
As reported on the Birmingham Mail website, Big Sam was left befuddled by the decision, saying: “We have a big week to follow this week with having the Everton game thrown in the middle which we could have done without when we had such big games against Brighton and Newcastle.”
He added: “I don’t want to get myself in trouble. We tried, we did try, we felt it was very irresponsible to pick the game on Thursday from the Premier League.
“We have two of the most important games against two of the teams who are down there below us and you throw a game in against Everton and don’t throw it in at the right time.
“If it was Wednesday I would have less of a complaint but when they threw it on Thursday I thought that was very disrespectful personally.”
Big Sam is bang on
That means Albion will have just two full days rest before hosting Newcastle at noon on Sunday.
It is not often we agree with Big Sam but looking at the evidence presented in front of us it it had to see the sense made by those in positions of power.
Everton will have enjoyed eight full days rest between their previous game with Liverpool on February 20 and their upcoming clash with Southampton on Monday before taking on Albion three days later.
They will then be afforded a three day gap before their FA Cup quarter-final fixture against Manchester City.
So why couldn’t their game with Southampton be brought forward a day or to which would allow the West Brom match to do the same?
Meanwhile Newcastle, who occupy the final survival slot, will have a full week to prepare for The Hawthorns clash on March 7.
It’s utterly mind-boggling as to how the bigwigs have come to this decision and is another hurdle to overcome in our ailing attempts to pull ourselves out of the relegation mire.
Big Sam needs to harness this frustration and use it as a means to galvanise the squad.
In other West Brom news, see our exclusive with Kevin Phillips on the 24y/o Albion ace getting a raw deal from some fans.
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