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HODGSON WARNS OF RELEGATION RISK

Roy Hodgson says West Brom face being sucked down unless they improve their home form.

Last Updated: 05/02/12 at 13:11 Post Comment   

Roy Hodgson: Wants 'home points soon'

Roy Hodgson: Wants 'home points soon'

Roy Hodgson has warned West Brom face being sucked into a relegation battle - and risk losing the backing of their own supporters - unless they improve their dismal home form.

The Baggies have the joint-worst home record in the Barclays Premier League, with only two wins and eight points from 12 games, after losing 2-1 at home to Swansea on Saturday.

Albion striker Marc-Antoine Fortune's opener was cancelled out by on-loan Swans midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson who then set up the winner for Danny Graham.

Hodgson believes the woeful sequence at the Hawthorns is now beginning to affect his players psychologically.

He said: "I don't think I've had as bad a run at home as this as a manager before. I've had situations where that as happened away from home.

"It is beginning to weigh on us now. There was a period when we could blame a bit of bad luck but now we are starting to turn it inwards on ourselves and that's not a very healthy situation.

"Our away record is good, but it needs to be, and I don't think we can rely upon that either if we want to stay out of trouble. We've got to take some home points soon."

Hodgson admitted: "With this sort of home run, you lose the crowd as well. Last year in our survival season, the crowd played a big part.

"Unfortunately, with so many home defeats we are losing them. They come with high expectations after we had that great run last season which pushed us up to 11th.

"Every week we send them home disappointed after losing and we are beginning to lose them and that is a major factor.

"Teams having to fight relegation do need the crowd behind them. Because of last season, the fans were dreaming of a very high finish and they can't get over the disappointment.

"Unless we can get back to some winning ways, get the crowd back on our side, it is going to be very difficult.

"We are six points clear of the bottom three but points get eaten up."

Swansea, in contrast, have improved their early season away form and notched a second win of 2012 on their travels to cement a top half of the table spot.

Defender Steven Caulker, on loan from Tottenham, said: "We are definitely looking higher than just avoiding relegation.

"Our aim is to finish in the top half of the table. We fancy our chances of doing that.

"Last year teams came up to the Premier League and more than proved they could do well at this level.

"This year ourselves and Norwich are mid-table and QPR are not far behind.

"Credit to all three teams. Everyone was ready for it, and in the summer prepared for it."

Sigurdsson played under Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers at Reading and did not take much persuading to link up with him again on loan from Hoffenheim for the remainder of the season.

But any decision on his long term future will not take place until the summer.

He said: "I'm only here for the rest of the season. Hopefully it goes well and we will have to see what happens in the summer."

Fortune broke the deadlock early in the second half but Swansea were level within two minutes thanks to Sigurdsson's cool finish and he then turned provider for Graham's 10th goal of the campaign.

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here has only been 3 players who made me hold my breath in dread when they picked the ball up anywhere near our penalty area...in their prime Scholes and Giggs... and always Drogba. Awesome player who on his day was the best striker in the world in my opinion.

gunner14
Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

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remember him scoring a 25-yarder, either the season just gone or the one before, against Bolton at the Reebok. I've never seen a ball hit that hard before in my entire life. You could almost feel the shockwave from his foot contacting it 40 yards away in the stands. Didier Droga. You might not have loved him, but you just had to be in awe of him.

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Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

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den Hazard, def. - 1) that girl in a club who makes eyes at you all night, who allows you to buy her a drink and walk her home arm in arm, who then gives you a suggestive kiss on her doorstep before declaring how tired she is and how she has to be up early the next day. 2) A cock tease.

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Hazard 'terms agreed' with trio

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