Friday 27 October 2017 11:45, UK
West Brom manager Tony Pulis admits his side must step up to the challenge of facing Manchester City on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola's men currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and they are the only unbeaten side in the division.
Albion lost 2-1 against Man City in the Carabao Cup at The Hawthorns last month and Pulis knows his side will face a difficult challenge once again.
Pulis said: "Man City are a different proposition. They are the form team in Europe, not just England. The performances they have put in and the goals they have been scoring means it will be a really tough game.
"The people who come to the ground tomorrow will watch a very, very good team. For West Brom to be playing one of the best teams in Europe is fantastic and we should relish it.
"They have been special this year. It is not just one player at Man City. There are six or seven who are right at the top of their game.
"He [Guardiola] has got what he wants and he is starting to show people what a fantastic coach he is.
"We want to give it the best go we possibly can. We know what we are up against and it will be tough, but we have to try and relax and work very hard."
West Brom come into the fixture having won just two of their last 18 Premier League matches and Pulis accepts Albion need to improve their recent form.
He added: "When working in the Premier League, there are such thin lines between success and failure. You only have to look back at our last three games.
"Against Watford, they score with the last kick of the game. At Leicester, I thought we did enough to win the match and against Southampton, a wonder goal finishes the game and gives it to them.
"The players have been really good, but they are as disappointed as anybody because we have been close in games.
"There are areas in which we have to improve which we have talked about.
"This league is never plain sailing. You have to point yourself into the wind and get on with it."
Albion will be without Craig Dawson and James Morrison for the game, but there was better news for Pulis on the injury front as Gareth McAuley is fit.
Regarding injuries, Pulis went on: "We already know Daws (Craig Dawson) will be out for a couple of months which is disappointing and we have had a setback with (James) Morrison as well. He will be out for the foreseeable future.
"Hopefully, Jonny (Evans) will be available and we are looking at Hal (Robson-Kanu) and Burky (Oliver Burke) too. Gareth Barry hasn't trained all week so we will have to see about him. Gareth McAuley is fine."
