Fletcher: Keep it clean and we'll stay up

Albion skipper Darren Fletcher has hailed his team's work ethic and ability to keep the clean sheets that will lead to Premier survival.

The former Manchester United midfielder said he has enjoyed his first couple of weeks at The Hawthorns and admitted it had been a smooth transition for him.

But the Scotland international insisted there is no 'Pulis secret' to Albion's improved form over the past few matches since the new head coach arrived.

"We work hard every day and we have a lot of good people in the dressing room," Fletcher said.

"The combination of working hard, listening to what the manager wants and expects, having a real appetite a workrate a good people around the place all factor in."

Albion's 0-0 draw at Sunderland underlined the fact that Albion are becoming a difficult nut to crack.

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"It was a good point. It was a difficult game," said Fletcher. "The lads were saying that's 10 clean sheets for the season and that's the basis for all we do.

"We'd like to create a few more chances and get goals but if you're keeping clean sheets it is a great basis to win football matches and credit to everyone.

"It's the whole team you can talk about defenders and goalkeepers but it starts with the strikers.

"It is about the whole team working hard and it's a clean sheet for all of the lads."

But Fletcher agreed there is still hard work to be done.

"We want to win every game.

We've got a difficult run-in, but if it comes to it we're more than capable of picking up points in those games as well. Like everyone else, we want to get the points on the board as quickly as possible."