Express & Star

West Ham vs West Brom: Baggies need a win to halt unwanted record

It’s half a season now, as if anyone needed reminding.

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Alan Pardew is yet to win since taking over the Baggies in November

Despite the promising performances at The Hawthorns against Everton and Arsenal, the Baggies have now gone 19 league games without victory.

Which means failing to win at the London Stadium will move them into the top three longest droughts in a single season in Premier League history.

Only Sunderland in 2002/03 and Derby County in 2007/08 have gone longer, and this Baggies team will match the North East side’s effort if they fail to get three points against West Ham.

So the last thing this team needs is an unfair impairment, but that’s exactly what they’ve been handed.

Alan Pardew heads to his old club just 48 hours after the hard-earned draw with Arsenal, cutting the usual recovery and preparation time dangerously short.

West Ham, on the other hand, haven’t played since Boxing Day.

“That really is tough, whichever way you look at it,” said Pardew. “A two-day turnaround for a Premier League game is just not fair.

“I find that very difficult to accept, for the protection of the group and players and where we are. I just don’t understand it but I think their response has been ‘London, train drivers, transport issues’.”

But Pardew doesn’t want his players using it as an excuse, despite how understandable it would be. “We’ve got to have a positive agenda going to West Ham,” he added.

There have been plenty of positives to take from the Pardew era, which has yielded promise rather than points so far.

The year just gone was hardly a vintage one for the Baggies, who only won three league games from the end of February.

But there are signs 2018 will bring more joy. Sunday’s goalscorer certainly thinks so.

“It’s all about momentum now and we’re putting our game to other teams which is something we are working hard at,” said Jay Rodriguez. “Every lad is working to the maximum and we just need that little bit of luck, maybe, to kick us off.

“It’s been difficult but I really hope the momentum has changed and things will be more positive.”

Under normal circumstances, Pardew would keep the same team that outplayed Arsenal in large parts, but with such little time between, he will be forced into changes.

Gareth Barry has been supreme in the last two games, but will the 36-year-old be able to put in another 90 minutes tonight?

Against Arsenal, Matt Phillips and Chris Brunt were taken off after 70 minutes on purpose; Pardew could see them faltering and he wanted to make sure they had something left in the tank.

Injuries to Salomon Rondon, Nacer Chadli and James Morrison make Albion’s available creative forces far more important.

Oliver Burke, who wasn’t used on Sunday, could be in line for just his second start of the season, but in the main part, it is likely to be the same team that took on Arsenal. Hopefully it will be enough.