Pardew's calamitous West Brom reign reaches new low

If a single game of football could sum up West Bromwich Albion’s entire Premier League season, it would be the 4-1 loss to Leicester on Saturday. During the 90 minutes, we saw the initial optimism change to nervousness, then anger and then to apathy.

Just like their start to this Premier League season, with back-to-back wins against Bournemouth and Burnley in August, West Brom started this game well, after a fantastic run and cross from Oliver Burke was turned in by Salomon Rondon. It gave the supporters reason to cheer, a slice of optimism and maybe, just maybe, they dared to dream.

Then, eerily similar to their whole season, things went downhill very quickly. After Jamie Vardy equalised with a ridiculous effort, the confidence started to drain from the supporters, and then the players themselves. Then came the inevitable, Leicester scored again through Riyad Mahrez and then, when Iheanacho put the game out of sight, The Baggies fell apart.

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Alan Pardew replaced Grzegorz Krychowiak, one of the better players on the day, and the Polish international certainly let the manager know, making his feelings very clear in an angry exchange with Pardew.

Then, when Jay Rodriguez was introduced, Chris Brunt could be heard discussing tactics with the manager on the touchline, clearly unhappy at the thought of a 4-4-2 formation that had been so unsuccessful in recent weeks. The last 10 minutes were a disgrace, the West Brom players went out with a whimper and even conceded a fourth late on. Sadly, it looks like our fight to avoid relegation never even got going.

What’s clear to all is that Alan Pardew has lost the respect of both the players and the fans. From alleged taxi joyrides to dressing room rows, and now open displays of unhappiness on the pitch, any respect or authority that he had has completely gone.

Regardless of the lack of interested or available replacements, Alan Pardew surely cannot remain in charge for the game at Bournemouth, the fans deserve better.