Express & Star

Tony Pulis phone-in builds fan relations with West Brom

Even though the Baggies are enjoying a stand-out campaign, it was still a brave thing to do.

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Last night Tony Pulis went on BBC WM's football phone-in to field questions directly from supporters.

He probably wouldn't have been able to do it this time last year.

Back then, Albion had just been dumped out of the FA Cup by Reading and had won just one of their previous six league games.

Fast-forward 12 months though, and now the fans are singing his name at The Hawthorns.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first caller addressed the issue that has plagued Pulis throughout his managerial career – style.

A season ticket holder for 35 years said last season's showing was unacceptable.

"A lot of supporters thought the same," admitted Pulis. "But you have to get the best out of what you've got. Results are everything at our level.

"Staying in the Premier League – whichever way you do it – was vital for this club. You've got to be patient, although I know supporters are not!"

It was a fair explanation, backed up by this season's stellar performances, and with that elephant in the room ushered out of the door early on, Pulis impressed for the rest of the phone-in.

There was an honest assessment of his £4.75million purchase of Callum McManaman.

"You hold your hand up and say I made a mistake," he said, before adding with a flourish, "Signing players is like getting married, you can court them for years, but until you marry them you don't know what you're getting into!"

It wasn't the only time he diffused a situation with a joke. When Eddie, a caller who will be well-known to regular listeners, told Pulis his first 18 months was the worst football he'd ever seen at The Hawthorns, the head coach shot back: "Worse than Bobby Gould?!"

That little nod to history won't have gone unnoticed by those who previously thought Pulis wasn't fully invested in the club. He clearly is now.

But that doesn't mean he just kowtowed to the fans. When one caller asked why he took Nacer Chadli off against West Ham, he laughed: "Thank God I never listen to the fans! They switched their system. Chadli was getting caught in between players, so we made a tactical change to make us a little bit stronger."

He dealt with the criticism well, but it was few and far between.

The majority of callers thanked Pulis for putting pride back into their club, and there was plenty of excited talk about what the future holds.

One man described sitting in eighth place like waking up next to Kylie Minogue. Another asked him to be godfather to his son if Albion reached Europe. Pulis said yes.

It was a snapshot of just how much fans have taken to the Welshman. There a now very few left who haven't been won round.

Even Eddie admitted he had been made to eat humble pie.

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