Baggies No.2 insists his players have plenty to play for against Arsenal on Sunday but is predicting a tough game against the Champions League-chasing Gunners
West Brom assistant manager Keith Downing has challenged his players to send Roy Hodgson off in style against Arsenal on Sunday.Hodgson will take over the England job at the end of the campaign after just one full season in charge at the Hawthorns and Downing insisted that much is still to play for for the mid-table Baggies.
He told reporters: "We want to finish above 47 points and finish strongly to make sure we have momentum for the new man in charge.
"From the players point of view, for some of them there are still contracts to play for
"We also hope we can give Roy a really good send-off with a positive result. It will be a good occasion for everyone, but particularly Roy and hopefully everyone will turn out in their droves."
The Gunners are chasing a result to secure third place and Champions League football for next season and Downing is anticipating a tough game but remains confident in the Baggies' players.
He said: "Credit to Arsenal for putting their destiny back into their own hands.
"They will come to our place looking for three points but we are unbeaten in four games and we want to continue that run.
"Maybe at home recently, they haven't got as many points as they would have wished but they have only lost one of the last five games.
"They have offensive-minded and very dangerous players."
Hodgson's right-hand man also backed the outgoing Baggies boss to succeed with the national side in the summer and believes the former Fulham coach's man-management skills will come to the fore with the Three Lions.
He said: "Roy is the best man in my opinion. He will give them strength and a purpose. His man management skills are excellent.
"England will go into each game with a strategic game plan and with the best chance of winning those games.
"Roy will bring a purpose to every day he works with the players."
