Steve Bruce makes demand to West Brom stars after Fulham win

Steve Bruce has piled the pressure onto his West Bromwich Albion players by insisting they must back up their Fulham victory with three points at Bristol City on Saturday.

The Baggies won for the first time at The Hawthorns under Bruce on Tuesday after Callum Robinson struck to see off Championship leaders Fulham. The win moved Albion up to 12th in the table, six points off the play-offs with nine games to go.

Bruce’s team have taken seven points from the last nine on offer and the Baggies boss wants three more at Ashton Gate before the international break.

“It’s turned into a decent week, we’ve taken seven (points) from nine,” said Bruce. “Now I’m going to put the pressure on all of us… we have got a huge game at the weekend against Bristol. Can we go and repeat that performance before the international break?”

Asked whether his team can still gate-crash the play-offs, Bruce added: “There is probably too many chasing, but can we go on a run? We have got to back it up. We have to win at Bristol before the break. So let’s see, I’m not going to give it up.”

Albion were good value for their victory over Fulham, whose last away defeat in the Championship came at Coventry City on October 2. Marco Silva’s team have scored 90 goals in the Championship this season, but they failed to work Sam Johnstone at The Hawthorns.

The Championship’s top scorer, 35-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic, was brilliantly marshalled by Bruce’s defence too.

“It’s OK to have a game plan and stick with it, they’re a very good side, but they have been manful in what they have done in sticking to the plan,” Bruce said. “The Mitrovic chance with his left foot was about it, wasn’t it? I can’t remember Sam having a shot to save.”