Tony Pulis defends West Brom selection despite heavy defeat at Norwich

Tony Pulis has praised West Brom supporters for welcoming the return of “naughty child” Saido Berahino.

The Scot, though, indicated he will give some of those who have seen their Premier League chances limited a chance to impress, with left-back Martin Olsson now fit again following summer shoulder surgery and Congo forward Dieumerci Mbokani, signed on from Dynamo Kiev, in line for a first start.

“Bringing them here, they were very, very bubbly and with a little bit of luck it might have been a different scoreline”.

“Especially because I thought we played better in the second half than the first”.

“(James) McClean, he was trying to get it on his left foot, he could have stepped round the goalkeeper and touched it in. What we need to do now is concentrate on playing football which is what he’s good at.

Lafferty then struck after a quick counter-attack to double his side’s lead, before Pocognoli diverted the ball into his own net to make it 3-0 and end West Brom’s cup ambitions. I don’t think it was a reflective score.

Craig Gardner threatened for the away side with a superb long-range strike after the break, but his attempt went just wide. “It is a case of getting some players game time, but also making sure the squad and team are going to be strong, certainly strong enough to win the game”.

Manager Alex Neil praised his performance, and that of fellow goalscorer Lafferty – recently the subject of speculation surrounding a transfer elsewhere – before revealing his displeasure at being drawn away to Everton in the competition’s fourth round.

Matt Jarvis had earlier grabbed another crucial goal for Norwich as the Canaries clinched a place in the last 16.