By Alex Fisher
30 May 2011 20:45:00
Roy Hodgson, West Bromwich Albion (Getty Images)
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West Bromwich Albion manager Roy Hodgson has warned his club’s fans not to get too carried away after comfortably securing survival in the Premier League this season.
When the former Liverpool and Fulham boss took over from Roberto Di Matteo in February the club were in 17th position in the league and very much in the relegation battle.
However with the club only falling to two defeats in Hodgson’s 12 games in charge they pulled away from the bottom three and finished the season in 11th position, but Hodgson admitted no-one at the club would be getting carried away with their performances.
“I think expectations would be kept in check here,” Hodgson told the club’s official website.
“I think the people at the club seemed pretty much aware of where we are and what we can do and what we are doing.
“I don’t think expectations will fly out of control. I think the fans here are realistic people.
“They don’t expect to keep going upwards, upwards, upwards.
“But they do expect that once we’re stable, we’re top ten or 12, that’s where they want to be.”
And he revealed his plans for next season would again be to keep the side in the division rather than pushing for the top 10.
“The major aim for the club has got to be to consolidate this year,” he added.
“We’ve retained our status with three matches to go and are preparing for another season in the league.
“We have to try to make certain next season we are in a similar position, consolidating and retaining our status into a third year.
“With every year you can log up as a Premier League team you get that little bit stronger and become more of a bona fide Premier League team.
“If you are always up and down, up and down, one is caught between knowing what you’re really preparing for. I’d like to see us in the same situation as Fulham going into their 11th season and Stoke going into their fourth.”