Interviews

Pardew stresses internal focus

ALAN Pardew says the onus is on his Albion side to deliver a performance against Everton on Saturday.

The Baggies travel to Goodison Park on the back on two consecutive victories, the most recent a commanding triumph over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League - their first since August.

Pardew was pleased with a 'big day' for the football club last weekend, so much so that he won't be putting too much emphasis on Everton ahead of the trip to Merseyside.

"It was a big day for us [against Brighton] and we managed the game very, very well. When you've gone so long without winning, to win in the manner that we did was surprising a little bit to me as a professional.

"Usually for your first win you scrape over the line or you have some really hairy times completing the victory. But we were comfortable in those last fifteen minutes. I think they had once good chance perhaps but other than that we kept them really quiet.

"We go to Everton in a better moment than when we went to Exeter. Any win in the Premier League is massive and it got us in touch with the group. We've still got a lot to do to try to win at Everton. It's our home games that will determine our future but on the away games we've got to win the odd game and pick up as many points as possible.

"Everton have had a strange period because when Sam [Allardyce] first came in they had some great results and everything looked like it would be smooth running. But they've had a tricky spell and in light of that some new signings have come in which strengthens Sam's hand. For us it's a little bit of the unknown. We don't know what team they'll pick, especially after a big defeat at Tottenham.

"It really is going to be about how we deliver a performance. We'll just plan on our performance levels, to keep them the same and hopefully get a win."

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