Shorey urges Baggies focus

Shorey: Has called for focus

Nicky Shorey has called on his West Brom team-mates not to be distracted by what is going on around them in the table.

The Baggies secured a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the weekend to lift them four points clear of the Premier League drop zone, with seven games remaining.

But Shorey says manager Roy Hodgson is keeping the squad grounded ahead of Saturday's visit to Sunderland, and has urged his colleagues to stay focused.

Concentrate

"You just have to concentrate on yourselves," the left-back told the club's official website.

"Sometimes you check on other people's results - but in the end you just need to take care of your own.

"We have got a tough run-in but at the moment anyone you play is going to be a tough game.

"We just have to concentrate on the next one.

"We feel we can give anyone a game at home, whether it be against Arsenal or Liverpool. And we're going into every game with confidence.

"Roy just wants us to get the points we need - and that's enough satisfaction for him.

"He keeps us grounded."

The Baggies are now undefeated in six league encounters, and Shorey is enjoying the new defensive approach Hodgson has brought to the club.

"It's down to hard work on the training pitch," he added. "That's what it's all about.

Mentality

"I've worked with him before and he's just got us all in, he's got us putting in the hours on the training ground, and hopefully it's going to pay off for the rest of the season.

"It's also about mentality, and not just a mentality for the defenders to defend but the whole team from the front.

"So, it's been more about getting that mentality into all the players."