Alan Pardew has accused the Premier League of endangering his West Brom players’ safety with the scheduling of Tuesday night’s game at relegation rivals West Ham.

Albion chairman John Williams unsuccessfully pleaded with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore to move the fixture.

Williams rang and wrote to Premier League chiefs in a bid to get the game put back, after being scheduled for just two days after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal.

In contrast, the Hammers have had a week’s rest — they have not played since a Boxing Day draw at Bournemouth.

Pardew is still looking for his first win and it'll be hard to get at former employers West Ham (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

West Ham had no match at the weekend, after their televised trip to Tottenham was postponed from New Year's Eve to Thursday because of public transport issues.

Pardew feels it is a huge handicap, as his struggling side seek to end a run of 19 games without a Premier League win.

The former Hammers boss, yet to win in his seven matches at the Hawthorns helm, revealed: “We have made strong representations.

Tuesday's kickoff will come just 49 hours after West Brom vs Arsenal ended... (
Image:
AFP/Getty)
...whereas West Ham won't have played for a whole week since drawing at Bournemouth (
Image:
Getty)

“It will be a tough game and they have had six days' rest. That is the bigger issue than anything.

“How we have got two days in professional Premier League football — putting players at risk of injury, in my opinion...

“It is not right, that. It is terrible.

“We all know there is pressure on TV companies for ratings and games and I understand that, but the league has got to be stronger and say two days is not right.

“There are some players who won’t be able to cope with that — I would be putting them at risk.

“A two-day turnaround for a Premier League game is just not fair. I find that very difficult to accept — for the protection of the players.”

Pardew added of delaying Spurs-West Ham, which obviously gives the Hammers less than 48 hours between the West Brom game and that one: “I just don’t understand it. I think their response has been…London, train drivers, transport issues!”

A statement from the top-flight said: “The Premier League is a national competition and the scheduling of fixtures is complex. It includes having to ensure twinned clubs do not play at home at the same time, and take into account police requests, local events, broadcasting selections and several other factors.

“Over recent years, FIFA and UEFA have taken more dates from the football calendar, restricting the opportunities in which to schedule 38 Premier League match rounds. With the World Cup squad call-ups commencing in May 2018, these restrictions are tightened further this season with an early conclusion to domestic competition.

“These challenges were highlighted to all of our clubs ahead of the season, and all understood that there could be no perfect solution which would meet all clubs’ individual preferences.

“With reference to the scheduling of our New Year’s Eve fixtures, a late decision by public service providers ensured one match would no longer be able to go ahead as originally planned. As the fixture had already been selected for live UK broadcast, it was moved to the next available date, which is in line with normal practice.”

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