Robson cautions against great expectations

Bryan Robson has called for West Brom fans to be patient and keep a lid on their expectations ahead of Saturday’s vital Premiership clash with Everton at the Hawthorns.

Albion have slipped into the bottom three, in stark contrast to the hopes of the supporters buoyed by last season’s escape act and a cluster of summer signings.

But Robson knows the likes of Curtis Davies, Nathan Ellington and Darren Carter will need time to adjust to the demands of playing regular top-flight football.

The Baggies chief said: “We lost a couple of home games and the fans were getting unsettled. That’s because we picked up 24 points from the last 19 games of last season.

“Now they’re looking at us, with the same squad of players, and saying that we can get 48 points. Then they’ve seen new players come in and think that we have a chance of Europe!

“The expectation levels have definitely gone up – but it takes time to build that kind of side.

“Curtis Davies will make mistakes to start with, Darren Carter is improving, Richard Chaplow needs games and Nathan Ellington may need a while to settle in.

“Our main aim now is to make sure we’re in the Premiership again.”

Robson knows the importance of everyone pulling together and he has a healthy working relationship with chairman Jeremy Peace.

He said: “The chairman, the board, the players, the staff and the fans all need to be heading in the same direction.

“If there are areas where people are stabbing each other in the back, it’s not often you’ll get success that way. The good thing about this club last season is that everyone started pulling together.”