Express & Star

James McClean sets the Albion standard

Published
Last updated

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis would love to have a few more players with winger James McClean's work-rate.

more

The Irish winger put in a Man of the Match performance on Saturday and gave Arsenal's fast young right-back Hector Bellerin an uncomfortable afternoon.

It was McClean's pull-back which Mikel Arteta bundled into his own net, to give Albion a lead they never relinquished.

But the 26-year-old also made some important interventions defensively.

Pulis said: "He was outstanding. We thought he'd have a struggle against Bellerin with his pace.

"James has run him three or four times. He's been superb. He gives a lot of spirit to the team. We'd love to have one or two more like him."

Albion's home form has been slow to get off the ground and Saturday's win was just the second at the Hawthorns this season.

Santi Cazorla missed a penalty eight minutes from time and Pulis thinks his team have finally got the luck their hard work deserves.

He said; "We've not had that roll of the ball at home in games but we had that and we needed it.

"They're a very good side and I think this year they've got as good a chance as they've had for maybe 10 years of winning the Premier League title.

"It's a good win for us, but like I say they'll be there or thereabouts.

"When you think of the players they've got to come in and the players they had missing - Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, there's loads of them you wouldn't mind having."

Albion's head coach praised the home crowd for their vocal impact on proceedings in the dying embers of the game.

He said: "I was pleased with the supporters and I want to thank the supporters as well for that last 10 minutes, quarter of an hour, for really pushing the lads forward."

Pulis is nearing a year in the job but according to him, there's still plenty to do.

He said: "There's lot of things – once I get my feet under the table – I want to do and change. I'm just going gradual and I'm so pleased we won for the players, because they've worked so hard."