Paul Scharner sets three-win target

Paul Scharner has set Albion a three-win target to keep alive their hopes of Premier League survival.

The utility man reckons three more victories could be enough to keep the Baggies in the top flight and spare him the first relegation of his career.

And the Austria international is adamant Roy Hodgson's side can pull off the shock results they need to stay up, despite a run-in that appears daunting.

He said: "It is a tough run-in but the Premier League is never easy. We need another three or four wins to survive and that will be our focus.

"At the beginning of the season we got points against Arsenal and Manchester United and the potential is still there.

"Especially in local derbies it is always a different game and if we can build and go one better than Monday there are definite possibilities."

Albion have collected three successive draws since the appointment of Hodgson as their new head coach, with the latest coming at Stoke on Monday.

But Scharner believes the Baggies are already showing the benefits of working with Hodgson, who has taken charge officially for the last two matches.

He said: "Monday was a good point but at the end we were a bit disappointed, because we had an excellent chance to take all three points.

"I think we are developing. We have now had two weeks training under Roy Hodgson and you could see on Monday that it's working more and more. I am very confident that we can start winning again over the next few games.

"The shape of the team changed a lot, especially in defence, because Roy saw our bad run with 53 goals conceded and that was the main point for him to address.

"We have worked really hard and, especially after the first week, everybody was shattered."

Scharner has played the last two matches in the heart of midfield, after spending many recent weeks at centre-back.

He said: "Roy said that he needs me in midfield and I am happy. I will try to get everything out of myself and help the team to survive.

"I will play anywhere but Abdoulaye Meite and Jonas Olsson were excellent on Monday so, at the moment, there is no need to change the defence."