West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson will spend carefully this month.

Hodgson defused talk of a cash row with chairman Jeremy Peace after being told in a meeting he can spend this month.

But he plans to tread carefully in the transfer market after getting his fingers burnt when he was at Fulham.

Albion host Cardiff in today's third round and Hodgson said: "The chairman is very supportive. There's no difference of opinion.

"The club won't be averse to spending money but it would be nice to get the right people.

"I'm singing from the same hymn sheet as the chairman. I don't want to waste money that could be put to better use in the summer.

"There's a trap in January that you're never sure the players being off-loaded aren't someone else's cast-offs.

"Two players I signed for Fulham in January two years ago hardly kicked a ball."