The gap just widens between the big guns and West Brom for Roy Hodgson

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson today geared up to face Tottenham by claiming the gap between the Premier League's 'haves' and 'have-nots' is getting bigger.

The Baggies will tomorrow take on a Spurs side looking to gatecrash the Premier League title race for the first time after an impressive run of form.

But Hodgson is warning his side face an uphill battle against Harry Redknapp's talented side, who arrive third in the Premier League, four points behind second-placed Manchester United with a game in hand.

The head coach said: "Against the teams around us we haven't done that badly and we've had one or two good performances against the top teams, notably Manchester United and Chelsea, and somewhat less against Liverpool and Arsenal.

"It's always going to be tough. The gap between the top four and what is now the top six or seven is getting even bigger. You don't see them slipping up. I think you've got as many as six teams who have got more than two points a game.

"If you go back six or seven years you might have only had two or three teams with an average of more than two a game, then you'd have had a lot more points down the bottom.

"It seems the top teams are not slipping up. Tottenham played Aston Villa on Monday night. Is there an upset on the cards? Can Aston Villa, with their budget and ambitions rock Tottenham? No they can't.

"United go to Swansea. Can Swansea pull it off? No they can't. Manchester City go to places and win and Chelsea go to Blackburn and Bolton and win.

"There is more and more of that. There is no doubt if you compare clubs like ourselves – and there are plenty of us – with the top teams, you are talking about a different world.

"You are talking about a different level of expenditure, transfer fees and wages. It's always going to be difficult.

"It's a bit like asking Shrewsbury, with their budget, to come up and compete with Bolton, Blackburn and West Bromwich Albion.

"£195million would keep this club going for, maybe, generations – and that's what one club in the league loses in one season!"

Hodgson was today completing his preparations for the Hawthorns clash with Albion looking to improve on results against United and Chelsea, both of whom were given a scare by the Baggies at the start of the season before eventually prevailing 2-1.

The Baggies boss believes Spurs' victory over Villa on Monday was a warning to the rest of the league of their red-hot form, which has delivered five wins and a draw from their last six Premier League games.

He said: "I don't know where and how Villa got it wrong, I just think it was a clear warning that we are facing a team with quality on the ball and with players who can do an awful lot of damage with the ball at their feet.

"If it was as simple as saying 'we'll stop them by getting close to them' then they wouldn't be up where they are.

"We could get 11 players out of the pub to run around and try to get close to them but it will be a lot more complicated than that and there will be a lot of nuances involved.

"We didn't defend that badly against Arsenal, who play in a similar way. We found ourselves a goal down but our defensive play was pretty good, so it will have to be of that level when it comes to defending.

"Then we will have to hope we can attack a little bit better than we did at the Emirates and keep the ball up front a bit better to give ourselves more of a breather.

"We don't want to concede a couple of goals like we did there to put ourselves on the back foot. That's what happened to Villa."