Sam Allardyce: West Brom need ruthless streak to survive

The Baggies, eight points adrift of safety with 10 matches of the Premier League season remaining, head to Crystal Palace on Saturday desperate for a win to revive their hopes.

Though pleased with the improved standard of recent performances, Allardyce has been left to rue his team’s failure to find the net with Albion having scored only once in their last four matches.

After conceding 26 goals in Allardyce’s first 10 Premier League matches in charge, their defence has been breached just twice in the last five games.

But it is the failure to make it count at the other end of the pitch which is costing them dear.

Allardyce said: “We have to start scoring. You get the clean sheet so the lads have the opportunity that if they only score one goal they will win the game but we are not doing that.

“Our last goal in open play was Manchester United. That was big Mbaye with a great header but then he went on to miss two clear cut chances after that. All the chances we have missed have stopped us winning games of football.

“Those three points (against Newcastle on Sunday) would have given us a really great opportunity of being a Premier League side next season.

“Now it’s a big task for us because the difference between drawing and losing in our position is massive because you’re not gaining anything on the opposition.”

Albion will visit a Palace team who have themselves failed to score in any of their last three home matches.

Allardyce continued: “We are tactically aware. We are performing at a high level, our fitness has improved.

“The only thing that has been missing over the last five or six games has been the quality of our finishing sadly.

“If we can put that right and keep the performances as high as we can, we are just going to have to win as many games as possible and see where it takes us.”