Shorey wants repeat from Hodgson

28 February 2011 08:00

West Brom defender Nicky Shorey is hoping a strong finish to the season from a Roy Hodgson side has him smiling - unlike three years ago.

In 2008 Fulham won four of their last five Premier League games to overhaul Reading and inflict relegation on the Royals, for whom Shorey played at the time. Now Albion have slipped into the relegation zone ahead of Monday's trip to Stoke - but Shorey is determined his team will be above the bottom three after the final game of the season.

He told www.wbafc.co.uk: "We went down on goal difference at Reading when our new gaffer saved Fulham. Going down is never nice and we definitely don't want it to happen here. We don't want to be playing in the Championship after tasting the Barclays Premier League. We've got some tough games coming up so we'll have to dig deep."

Hodgson replaced Roberto di Matteo earlier this month - and Shorey acknowledges a change of manager can keep players on their toes.

He continued: "I never like to see anyone lose their job, I really don't. As a player, it's just something I don't like to see.

"But you also know it's a new chance to show the new gaffer 'I should be in the team, I'm a good player and I'm worth having about'.

"It's just a renewed energy, especially if you haven't been playing regularly like me. Whereas before you were coming into training, training well and it didn't seem to matter, now, with a new gaffer, it does seem to matter.

"Obviously, the new gaffer's got to fast-track everyone into thinking the way he thinks and set us up the way he wants us to play.

"It's going to be difficult in the first few games but hopefully we can learn quickly and implement his ideas.

"He's exactly the same as he was at Fulham. His methods have served him well so I'm sure he won't be changing too much now."

Source: PA