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Sam Allardyce may have led West Ham United clear of relegation but that does not equate to safety. As Pepe Mel celebrated his first home win in English football to take West Bromwich Albion to the brink of securing their Premier League status, the visiting supporters turned on their manager Allardyce again.
The Hammers fans chanted “Fuck off Sam Allardyce” and flew a flag pleading for his dismissal as their team lost for the seventh time in nine matches. It is a good job they reached 37 points last month – and that Fulham let slip their winning position yesterday – because West Ham are in the kind of tailspin that costs middling teams their place in a division and managers their jobs.
Allardyce’s future may come into question if this sequence continues because his stock is empty with supporters. Booed after victory over Hull last month, he was jeered after last week’s home defeat by Crystal Palace and again throughout this match, after Saido Berahino claimed the Baggies’ customary early goal.
This result ended West Brom’s habit of flying into early leads only to end up with single points. After the thrills of 3-3 draws with Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City, Albion fans celebrated this more prosaic match as if they had just won promotion. With three games left, one more point should suffice to keep them up.
West Brom: The latest match picturesShow all 88 1 /88West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 4 Burnley 0 Inspired by Graham Dorrans and Saido Berahino, the Baggies achieved their biggest Premier League home win.
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 4 Burnley 0 It proved to be a tough afternoon for the Premier League new boys as West Brom ran riot.
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 4 Burnley 0 Burnley were looking for players like George Boyd to fill the void left by Danny Ings and Sam Vokes - who are injured.
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 4 Burnley 0 Both Alan Irvine and Sean Dyche have endured challenging starts to their first seasons managing in the Premier League
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea City 3 West Brom 0 Nathan Dyer celebrates after his second minute goal makes it two goals in two matches for the little winger
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea City 3 West Brom 0 Wayne Routledge doubled the lead with an absolutely sensational volley from outside of the box
West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea City 3 West Brom 0 Routledge celebrates his stunning goal with Wilfried Bony
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea City 3 West Brom 0 West Brom keeper Ben Foster makes a fingertips save to keep the score at 3-0
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea City 3 West Brom 0 £10m signing Brown Ideye was largely ineffective for Alan Irvine as West Brom's main man
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea City 3 West Brom 0 Garry Monk celebrated making it nine points from a possible nine for Swansea City this season
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 2 Charlie Adam celebrates his winning goal
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 2 Charlie Adam fires in the away side's winner
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 2 Stephane Sessegnon celebrates his equaliser with Graham Dorrans and Saido Berahino
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 2 Marko Arnautovic and Marc Muniesa celebrate after an own goal by Gareth McAuley
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Stoke 2 Marko Arnautovic crosses the ball for an own goal by Gareth McAuley to give Stoke the lead
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Manager Gus Poyet celebrates with his players after their win secures Premier League safety
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Fabio Borini celebrates after scoring the Blackcats' second goal
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Fabio Borini curls in the home side's second
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Stephane Sessegnon holds off Lee Cattermole
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 John O'Shea congratulates Jack Colback after his opening goal
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Jack Colback finds the back of the net to open the scoring
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Sunderland 2 West Brom 0 Chris Brunt has a shot at goal
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 The Arsenal players line-up before the match
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 West Brom manager Pepe Mel looks on from the sidelines
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 Mesut Ozil escapes the attention of James Morrison
West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 Olivier Giroud heads Arsenal into a 14th minute lead
West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 Olivier Giroud celebrates his goal against West Brom
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 Mikel Arteta turns away from Diego Lugano
West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 Mathieu Flamini unleashes a shot on goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 Santi Cazorla brings the ball under control
West Brom: The latest match pictures Arsenal 1 West Brom 0 Arsene Wenger waves to the Arsenal crowd after the final whistle
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 West Ham 0 A portion of the West Ham fans display their displeasure over manager Sam Allardyce
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 West Ham 0 Mohamed Diame dribble with the ball
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 West Ham 0 Guy Demel holds off a challenge from Chris Brunt
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 West Ham 0 Andy Carroll plays a ball across the Baggies' box but fails to find a teammate
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 West Ham 0 Saido Berahino celebrates his opening goal with his teammates Stephane Sessegnon and Chris Brunt
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 West Ham 0 Saido Berahino wheels away after firing home the Baggies' opener
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Tottenham 3 Tottenham Hotspur's Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen (R) celebrates after scoring his team's third goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Tottenham 3 Harry Kane of Spurs is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's second goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Tottenham 3 Stephane Sessegnon celebrates scoring the third goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Tottenham 3 Emmanuel Adebayor of Spurs misses a with a penalty attempt
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Tottenham 3 Chris Brunt of West Bromwich celebrates after scoring his team's second goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Tottenham 3 West Bromwich Albion's Czech forward Matej Vydra celebrates after scoring the opening goal
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Norwich 0 West Brom 1 Pepe Mel is all smiles as he celebrates with his players after the Baggies vital away victory
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Norwich 0 West Brom 1 Saido Berahino and Joseph Yobo race to win the ball
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Norwich 0 West Brom 1 Stephane Sessegnon holds off pressure from Sebastien Bassong and Alexander Tettey
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Norwich 0 West Brom 1 Youssuf Mulumbu jumps with Jonathan Howson for the ball
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Norwich 0 West Brom 1 Robert Snodgrass keeps the ball under pressure from Liam Ridgewell
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Norwich 0 West Brom 1 Morgan Amalfitano scores for the Baggies
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Cardiff 3 Mats Moller Daehli saves a point for Cardiff in the last minute
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 3 Cardiff 3 Thievy Bifouma Koulossa puts the Baggies ahead late on
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 2 Cardiff 2 Steven Caulker celebrates in front of the away fans after he equalises for Cardiff
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 2 Cardiff 2 Graham Dorrans celebrates after scoring the Baggies' second
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 2 Cardiff 2 David Marshall can only look on as Morgan Amalfitano scores with a superb lob from 30 yards out
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Hull 2 West Brom 0 Shane Long taps home Hull's second
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Hull 2 West Brom 0 David Meyler and Steven Reid go in for a tackle
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Hull 2 West Brom 0 Liam Rosenior puts Hull ahead
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea 1 West Brom 2 Jonathan de Guzman takes a freekick
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea 1 West Brom 2 Youssouf Mulumbu celebrates his goal with Zoltan Gera and Thievy Bifouma
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea 1 West Brom 2 Youssouf Mulumbu scores the late winner for West Brom
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea 1 West Brom 2 West Brom players congratulate Stephane Sessegnon on his equaliser
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Swansea 1 West Brom 2 Wilfried Bony and James Morrison go in for a tackle
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 0 Manchester United 3 West Brom manager Pepe Mel looks on as his team go down 3-0 at home
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 0 Manchester United 3 Danny Welbeck comes off the bench to score United's third
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 0 Manchester United 3 Wayne Rooney celebrates his goal
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 0 Manchester United 3 Wayne Rooney scores with a header to make it 2-0 to Man United
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 0 Manchester United 3 Adnan Januzaj is shown a yellow card for hand ball
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 0 Manchester United 3 Phil Jones powers home a header to put Man United 1-0 up
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Fulham 1 A point made: Matej Vydra delivers the shot that Maarten Stekelenburg let under his arm for West Bromwich’s late equaliser
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Fulham 1 James Morrison goes in for a tackle with Scott Parker
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Chelsea 1 Jose Mourinho before kick off
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Chelsea 1 Liam Ridgewell heads clear
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Chelsea 1 Cesar Azpilicueta wins the ball
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Chelsea 1 Branislav Ivanovic scores
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Chelsea 1 Ivanovic celebrates his goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Chelsea 1 Chelsea celebrate with goalscorer Ivanovic
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Chelsea 1 Victor Anichebe equalises for West Brom
West Brom: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 West Brom 1 Scott Dann of Crystal Palace organises the defence during the 3-1 win over West Brom
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Crystal Palace 3 West Brom 1 Marouane Chamakh of Palace is fouled by Ben Foster of West Brom to win a penalty
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West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Luis Suarez is fouled early on
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Coutinho loses the ball
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Daniel Sturridge scores the opening goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Sturridge celebrates his goal
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Jordan Henderson on the ball
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Liam Ridgewell tackles Luis Suarez
West Brom: The latest match pictures West Brom 1 Liverpool 1 Steven Gerrard looks on
West Brom: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 West Brom 1 Craig Dawson unsuccessfully tries to stop Manchester City's first goal of the match
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West Brom: The latest match pictures Manchester City 3 West Brom 1 Craig Dawson unsuccessfully tries to stop Manchester City's first goal of the match
“I am extremely happy for the fans,” Mel said. “They have shown again today they are the best in the Premier League.”
Allardyce accepts that West Ham may already be safe from relegation and had no problem with supporters directing their frustration at him, even though he was not disappointed with his players’ performance.
“You don’t want to take abuse but it’s something you’re aware of,” he said. “But you know what’s going to turn it around, and that’s winning. Until we turn it around, it’s going to continue. I accept that criticism because it’s my responsibility.
“My responsibility is to build a better team than this one. That’s my responsibility, and that of the owners, making sure that everything’s in place once we get safe because this season we haven’t been as good as we should have been, we haven’t produced enough results. So we have to improve.”
West Brom’s goal came in the 11th minute. Stéphane Sessègnon led the break and nipped ball out to Morgan Amalfitano who was allowed an age before drilling the ball in past Adrian, for Berahino to claim the last touch ahead of Guy Demel.
Berahino was the subject of an alleged dressing-room bust-up with James Morrison after going for goal rather than heading for the corner flag when West Brom led Cardiff with moments to go last month. “It’s a long time ago and now it’s been totally forgotten,” Mel said.
But despite that customary early goal, West Ham continued to make chances as if at will. Andy Caroll angled one volley against defender Craig Dawson, and saw Ben Foster produce a brilliant save in the first half before heading against the crossbar in the second half.
The home side did play with some semblance of control in the second half, intent on carving out their chances carefully and maintaining possession better.
Line-ups:
WBA (4-2-3-1): Foster; S Reid (Morrison, h-t), Dawson, Olsson, Jones; Mulumbu, Dorrans; Amalfitano, Sessègnon (Anichebe, 81), Brunt; Berahino (Yacob, 90).
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Demel, Tomkins (Collins, 33), W Reid, McCartney; Noble, Diamé; Downing (sub: J Cole, 67), Nolan, Jarvis (C Cole, 79); Carroll.
Referee: Mike Dean.
Man of the match: Foster (WBA).
Match rating: 7/10
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