Tony Pulis insists West Brom need signings despite victory against Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace 0 West Brom 1

It was announced last week that a Chinese group led by Guochuan Lai had agreed a deal with former chairman Jeremy Peace to buy the club.

Former Blackburn chairman John Williams has since succeeded Peace, and Pulis has called on him and the Yunyi Guokai (Shanghai) Sports Development Limited group to invest in new players.

Under Peace they had been among the most prudent clubs in the Premier League, spending far less than Pulis was used to while boss of Stoke.

On Saturday they were the better team as they won their opening fixture at Crystal Palace, but the manager is concerned they have “stagnated” and need to strengthen in the coming weeks.

“The club has had, and still has, a lot of players who have been here for a long time,” said Pulis, whose team won with Salomon Rondon’s second-half header.

“I’ve been here now 22 months. It’s been one of the things I’ve said — the club has almost stagnated, and it really needs to get on its front foot. It’s the only club in the West Midlands this year that’s in the Premier League, (has) fantastic support, and the supporters and everybody around the place — we need a little bit of impetus.

“We’re trying to do business, we need to do business, and we’ll go from there. Hopefully we’ll get it in the next two weeks. It’s a big two weeks for me and the football club.”

Palace’s supporters cheered the second-half introduction, as a substitute, of Yannick Bolasie but manager Alan Pardew revealed the forward is close to concluding a transfer to Everton.

“Our fans are frustrated a little bit, because they probably can sense that something’s going to happen to Bolasie, a player who can create a moment for us,” he said.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare (Kelly 90), Jedinak, Puncheon (Cabaye 77), Townsend, Lee (Bolasie 66), Zaha, Wickham.

Subs not used: Speroni, Ledley, Anderson, Ladapo.

WEST BROM: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans, Phillips, Fletcher, Yacob, Gardner (McClean 71),Rondon, Berahino (Morrison 86).

Subs not used: Myhill, Lambert, Leko, Field, Wilson.

Referee: Craig Pawson