Paul Scharner hands West Bromwich Albion four-point safety target

Paul Scharner of West Brom (Getty Images)

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West Bromwich Albion midfielder Paul Scharner has set his team a target of three or four more victories in order to achieve their aim of Premier League survival.

The Baggies battled to a well-deserved point in a 1-1 draw at Stoke City last weekend and Scharner, who has played in both midfield and defence this season, is confident that his team can pick up enough points to stay in the league.

“It is a tough run-in but the Premier League is never easy,” the Austrian told the Express & Star.

“We need another three or four wins to survive and that will be our focus.”

West Brom started the season in sensational form but a mid-season slump saw them drawn into the relegation battle – but Scharner is confident that this Saturday’s derby against League Cup winners Birmingham City will be an opportunity to pick up three points.

“At the beginning of the season we got points against Arsenal and Manchester United and the potential is still there,” he added.

“Especially in local derbies it is always a different game and if we can build and go one better than Monday there are definite possibilities.”

New Baggies’ boss Roy Hodgson has drawn his first two games in charge – with Arsenal loanee Carlos Vela coming off the bench to rescue a point against Wolves and Stoke City.

But despite their slow start, Scharner is confident that the Baggies’ defence has benefitted from Hodgson’s experience in the past few weeks – and thinks the side can battle their way to Premier League survival

“I think we are developing. We have now had two weeks’ training under Roy Hodgson and you could see on Monday (against Stoke City) that it’s working more and more.

“I am very confident that we can start winning again over the next few games. The shape of the team changed a lot, especially in defence.”