New West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson is looking to his players to show the commitment and desire needed to remain in the Premiership. The Baggies have suffered an alarming slump down the table after initially starting brightly back in the top flight this season, and are now just one point and a place above the relegation zone.
"I don't think anyone needs to keep highlighting the fact this is not an easy job," Hodgson told the club's official website.
"People have been understanding and sympathetic of that so far.
"People within the game, the media and other managers realise what the job is.
"But, most importantly, we need to get over to the players how important the job is, so that they understand that their desire and fear of failure must be every bit as great as that of the board and the staff.
"They have to share our burning ambition to stay in this league because they can actually affect it.
"If I was to go on the evidence of my one game in charge, I'd say there is that burning ambition because we were by no means bullied in a strong, physical game against Wolves - in fact we got an equaliser."
Having collected only eight points away from home this term, the former Liverpool boss is looking to an improved away showing to halt the slide.
"I think we will need to win away, but our away record is shared by a number of clubs," he said. "It's not just West Brom who find it hard to win away.
"But we do need some 'three-pointers' and, more importantly at this stage, we need to hang on in there and give ourselves a chance.
"It's going to go down to the wire and be very close between four or maybe five teams with a couple of others still not out of it, although Blackpool took a nice step forward on Tuesday (beating Tottenham).
"Even the teams on 31 or 32 points are not out of it because we all know that in the Premier League, if you're not one of the top teams, it's not difficult to lose three or four games in a row.
"It happens to us all, so I am just hoping that we can cling on in there and make sure we don't get divorced and then somewhere that run will come.
"One of the elements of that run will probably be trying to get an away result."
