Robson threatens to wield the axe error-prone captain

The West Bromwich Albion manager, Bryan Robson, has warned that he will drop players unless his side tighten up defensively.

Robson has been critical of his goalkeeper Russell Hoult and team captain, Darren Purse, for the latest débâcle at Norwich in the Premiership relegation battle last weekend. Hoult was to blame for the first goal and Purse the second as Norwich prevailed 3-2 after being outplayed for long periods to leave Albion at the foot of the table.

Robson stopped short of saying that the pair would definitely be dropped for Saturday's FA Cup replay at Tottenham. But it is clear that he is losing patience with individual mistakes at the back that are umdermining a general improvement.

"We can't afford many more mistakes," Robson said. "If they don't improve, then they are going to be out of the team.

"I am still encouraged by the fact that we are playing well. But we have got to cut out the mistakes that are costing us games. There has been some real poor defending in the last two games. It is individuals who are letting us down with lack of concentration. It makes all the work we have done on the training ground a waste of time - and you cannot win Premiership games if you keep making mistakes like that."