Sam Allardyce fury at ‘disrespectful’ West Brom fixture switch
Sam Allardyce has slammed the Premier League for moving Albion’s clash against Everton to next Thursday – with the boss describing the decision as ‘irresponsible’ and ‘disrespectful’.
The Baggies face relegation rivals on consecutive weekends with Brighton visiting The Hawthorns tomorrow and Newcastle next Sunday.
Allardyce’s men had been due to face Everton on March 20 but the Toffees progression in the FA Cup meant that fixtures had to be rearranged.
And the boss is not happy it will now take place on Thursday – with the 66-year-old revealing Albion tried to appeal the decision. “I don’t want to get myself in trouble,” Allardyce said when asked if the Baggies appealed the fixture date. “We tried, we did try. We felt it was very irresponsible to play the game on a Thursday from the Premier League. Yes, throw us a game in, we will accept that – but put it on a Wednesday.
“Get it to Wednesday based on what we are trying to achieve.
“We have two of the most important games against two teams who are down there with us and you throw a game in against Everton and don’t throw it in at the right time. If it was Wednesday I would have less of a complaint. But throwing it on to Thursday – I thought that was very disrespectful.
“The Everton game has given us a lesser chance of winning the Newcastle match now because Newcastle won’t be playing in midweek and we will.
“I am not very pleased about it.”
Meanwhile, the Express & Star understands Kyle Bartley has had his contract at Albion extended by a year.
