Sam Allardyce enjoying life at West Brom despite relegation threat

The Baggies travel to take on Crystal Palace today for a match the 66-year-old has described as a must-win.

But while Albion are 1/25 on with some bookmakers to be relegated, Allardyce is still enjoying his time at the club.

The head coach endured a nightmare start with the team picking up just five points – and conceding a staggering 28 goals – in his first 10 games in charge.

But performances over the last five games have been vastly improved with the Baggies having kept three clean sheets in their last four outings.

Allardyce signed an 18-month deal at The Hawthorns back in December.

He has made it clear he will remain in charge next season if the Baggies remain in the Premier League. But his future is less clear if Albion do go down.

Whatever happens, though, Allardyce is enjoying his time at the club.

“The enjoyment comes when you see the team’s performances improving,” the Dudley-born boss said.

“The January transfer market, the backroom team, Luke (technical director Luke Dowling) – it all pulled together to get us where we are now.

“We have seen an improved performance level.

“We have not achieved as many points as we should have done. We should be on 23 points or maybe even more than that.

“But it hasn’t happened so we have to make sure we produce performances that bring victories, which we have been so close to in the last eight or nine games.”

Allardyce continued: “You don’t come into a football club and not enjoy yourself.

“There are times when it is extremely difficult because of the responsibilities but that falls on every manager.

“But I have had huge amounts of experience in these situations to know that yes, I will be down and worry about the team and not sleep as much as I would like but overall, that is part of the job and one of the beautys of it.

“I have always liked a challenge, facing up to it and meeting it head on.

“What was the alternative? It was particularly frustrating for me being so inactive because of lockdown.

“I thought this opportunity was a great way to enjoy working with young people on a day-to-day basis with the challenges it brings.

“Hopefully now we can bring more results to West Brom.”