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Roy Hodgson targets more 'derby day' efforts

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Roy Hodgson today challenged Albion to conjure up 11 more 'derby day' performances as they battle to save their Premier League status.

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Roy Hodgson today challenged Albion to conjure up 11 more 'derby day' performances as they battle to save their Premier League status.

Head coach Hodgson wants the Baggies to replicate their spirited effort, shown in Sunday's draw with Wolves, for the rest of the season.

And the new boss believes the players' attitude must carry them through as he attempts to make the tactical changes he wants from his squad.

"The fans are really good and get behind the team and we have to make sure we give them something to really get behind," said Hodgson.

"We've got to give another 11 performances at least on a par with what we produced on Sunday and I would like to think that the fair-minded fans amongst them would say 'they are doing their very best, they're not playing badly and they're giving it a good go'.

"That's all we can really promise the fans at this stage. The players have been excellent and we will be very quickly into that 'grey zone' — and coaches will understand what I'm talking about — where we are half organised in terms of what I would like to see. A lot of what we did on Sunday was quite a good transfer from the work we've been trying to do."

"But still you fall down on the details and the little things and that takes time.

"We are playing catch-up a little bit but I can't for one minute find fault with the players in terms of their determination and if we continue to show that resilience and fighting spirit we will give ourselves a chance of staying up."

The Baggies face tough away trips for their next two games against Stoke and Birmingham.

But their remaining home matches are no less inviting with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea among their final five Hawthorns opponents.

And Hodgson believes the Baggies' home fans have a big role to play.

"The atmospheres have been fantastic," he said.

"I have seen an unbelievably spectacular 3-3 with lots of goal chances on either side, and I have seen a game I can identify with a bit more, where the goal chances for the opposition are much more limited.

"But the atmosphere again was quite outstanding. The feeling of joy and relief will live with me for quite a while and with those kind of fans behind us we've got a chance of the getting the points we need to stay in the league."