Tony Pulis column: ‘You have to convince the players your style will work’ – a winning mentality in a relegation battle

Most pundits are convinced that Wolves and Burnley have been relegated, and both will need something spectacular to stay top of the table from here.

Burnley are the team that conceded the fewest goals in the Championship last season, but this season they have the worst defensive record in the Premier League. Wolves have improved under Rob Edwards, but I think they have a lot to do.

That leaves four other teams in my view – West Ham, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds – trying to avoid the final relegation zone.

So, how do I think this will go down, and what do I suggest these clubs should try to avoid finishing in 18th place?

For starters, home performance is very vital and extra emphasis should be placed on your club’s supporters on this single point.

I can remember an early conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson in my first season in the Premier League with Stoke City.

His assessment was that our slim chances of survival would be determined by our home form, or as he put it “you won’t get many points away from the Britannia Stadium”.

He told me our best chance of staying up was to make it a place no one wanted to go. He said that if any of the top teams go there and praise you, you are not doing it right. I took that into consideration and I don’t think I’ve ever been in a football stadium where the crowd and the team were together.

It helped that a gambling company paid out punters who bet on us falling after our first game of the season, which we lost 3-1 to Bolton.

I responded by dismissing their assumptions as a direct insult not only to the football club but to the city as well.

From that moment on, clubs showed up at our stadium and faced a 30,000-strong squad, which undoubtedly played a massive role in our success in surviving this season.

It was an amazing achievement, but it would not have been possible without our supporters. A great example of this was with the British team against emerging Manchester City at the end of January.

We went into that game without a win in nine league games and in the relegation zone, down to 10 men at half-time but then scoring before half-time.

In the second half, no matter what we did, every tackle, pass or interception was greeted with an incredible ovation from the stands. We went on to win 1-0 and then I was asked about my tactics, and I remember saying that no team could beat 30,000 of us today, because that’s how I felt.

That match was the start of a run of four wins and two home draws, which got us to safety by the end of April.

But as much as a positive atmosphere can get you over the line, if the fans aren’t behind you, playing at home won’t help you – it can hold the players back instead.