Tony Pulis: Brains and brawn for West Brom

Boss Tony Pulis believes Saido Berahino's natural football intelligence has played a role in the renaissance of Brown Ideye.

The Nigerian international has scored four goals in three games, including a brace in Saturday's 4-0 FA Cup win over West Ham.

And Pulis believes playing alongside Berahino has had a positive effect on the 26-year-old, who had been set to exit the club on transfer deadline day before a move to Qatari club Al Gharafa broke down.

"I think it's confidence," said Pulis. "When you score a couple of goals your chest puffs out a couple of inches and you look a bit bigger and stronger and quicker and more lively.

"His demeanour and everything about the lad is different and that's strikers for you. They live off goals and their confidence grows off it, or shrinks if they don't score."

Berahino, five years Ideye's junior, has scored 16 goals this season and Pulis added: "Saido is a very good player who can play with most players because he is technically gifted – a natural footballer.

"It is not too difficult on the football pitch to play with Saido."

Last week it was revealed Pulis held a summit of senior players in a bid to clamp down on any disruptions in the dressing room as Albion target survival in the Premier League.

The head coach believes it will help him keep control, adding: "I've always done it at the other clubs, spoken to certain individuals who I think are the solid citizens in the dressing room.

"You get a feel from them, if things are going well or not so well in certain areas.

"Generally if you can build up a good relationship with the senior players, where they trust you and you trust them, then hopefully they'll sort any problems in the dressing room before you even know about it.

"I've always thought it was very important to have a good dressing room and one that is pushing and pulling together. I've always tried to maintain that at every club I've been at."

[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text="How well do you feel Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye compliment each other for West Brom?" button="Log in and start commenting"]