West Brom boss Tony Pulis delighted as Salomon Rondon breaks goal drought

The Venezuelan scored his first Baggies goal for nearly five months in a topsy-turvy 2-2 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor today.

Not only was it his first goal in 20 Albion games, it was the team's first goal for nearly nine hours of football and ended the club's longest wait for a league goal in their history.

Pulis said it was richly deserved after tortuous few months for the £12million striker who never gives up, and has a lot resting on his shoulders with so few strike options at the club.

"Everybody at the football club and all the players in the dressing room are pleased Salomon scored," said Pulis. "He's kept going, what people don't realise is we've only got two strikers.

"Hal (Robson-Kanu) is injured at the moment and Salomon has had to take the responsibility and really carry the teams at times when he could have done with a bit of a break. But he's kept going.

"Everybody respects him and understands what a great kid he is. In training and in games he never stops.

"He just needed a goal, that'll perk him up a little bit, everybody's pleased, especially him."

Rondon's goal was Albion's first since Craig Dawson scored against Arsenal in mid-March, but it broke the dam, because twelve minutes later Dawson added a second on his 27th birthday, heading in a Chris Brunt corner.

That put the Baggies 2-1 up but Sam Vokes equalised with four minutes to go.

"When Burnley went ahead it was the first time we looked exposed on that side of the pitch," said Pulis. "Jonny (Evans) had just come off and we looked a little bit disjointed and they obviously scored a goal and it gives you a kick.

"But the character of the players after that was absolutely fantastic. They could have easily turned it in.

"The disappointing thing is when we get our noses in front, they come back and get the goal from a set play."

That fourth goal four minutes from time came about because of a mix-up between Gareth McAuley and Ben Foster, but Pulis refused to blame two of his most reliable performers.

"They (Burnley) get so many balls in the box that you are going to make mistakes at times," said Pulis. "Should Gareth have just headed it away and not let Ben get involved? I'm not sure but we are what we are.

"Gareth and Ben have been brilliant for us all season. The lads are disappointed with the goal but overall, we're very pleased."

The draw lifts Albion up to 45 points, keeping them two points clear in eighth, even though they have just won one of the last nine games.

Despite that poor run, sections of the packed 2,500-strong away end were singing Tony Pulis's name even at 1-0 down, and the Welshman appreciated the support.

"Our supporters were brilliant today, even when we went a goal down they were fantastic, kept behind the players and that's good," he said.