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Pardew: West Brom board 'might think a change is a better thing'

LINDSEY PARNABY / AFP / Getty

Alan Pardew will hold talks with the West Bromwich Albion board after Saturday's 4-1 home stuffing from Leicester City left the club eight points adrift of safety with eight matches of the league season to go.

The Baggies have won only once in the 15 top-flight matches Pardew has overseen, and were particularly lacklustre in the final third of their meeting with Claude Puel's Foxes.

"Before you even ask, will I speak to upstairs - of course I will because it's getting difficult," Pardew told BBC Sport. "I will still talk to them and get a feel for what they think because they might think a change is a better thing for the club.

"I'm going to have to sleep on this result and come up with how we're going to go forward. I want the best for West Brom."

Salomon Rondon opened the scoring at the Hawthorns, but a Riyad Mahrez-inspired Leicester hit back with four unanswered goals. Puel appreciated a "very open game" could have been 3-3 at the break, but Leicester was able to take control in the second half.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

"I am not going to lay down tools because I am saying to the players they have to fight until the end," Pardew said.

"You have to fight. You have to fight until the end. I don't care whatever job or workplace you are in. If you are under pressure and you are not going to fight, then don't bother turning up."

There was evidence of more discord behind the scenes when Grzegorz Krychowiak refused to shake hands with Pardew when he was substituted after 59 minutes. This followed the public furor when Gareth Barry, Jonny Evans, Jake Livermore, and Boaz Myhill reportedly stole a taxi during February's team trip to Spain, and when it transpired that Chris Brunt was at the centre of a dressing-room row following a recent 2-1 home defeat to Huddersfield Town.

"I do have a problem with it because I've supported him and played him and stuck by him when he's not been particularly great," Pardew shared on the Krychowiak incident.

"And to come off and not shake my hand. I made it very clear to him on the bench I'm not accepting that. I think it's wrong. He's a player on loan who should show respect."

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