Sam Allardyce was clearly frustrated after West Bromwich Albion lost to Sheffield United on Tuesday.

The Baggies went ahead through Matt Phillips but eventually went down 2-1 at Bramall Lane.

Speaking after the game, Allardyce said: "Obviously it's disappointing for us but it's not unusual as we've been in these positions. I'm sick of repeating myself. Until we learn at this level to stop goals - scruffy goals that could have been avoided - it's an uphill battle.

"If they score a great goal then you can accept that but they were ones that could have been avoided. The big turning point was the big save from their goalkeeper off Callum Robinson. That was a wonder save and it would have been 2-1 for us.

"What happens in our defensive area is avoidable. We can't seem to clear it. We should have gone 2-1 up but we then gave it away. I would have been happy with a point in the end. I was comfortable with the first half performance with how we played but then when the second goal didn't go in for us and they put us under pressure and took advantage of it.

"We couldn't get anything back from then. We have to rely on not just these players but the new players we have in this window. We need to get better all round. If we can, we can get more results.

"It leaves us in the bottom two but the distance between the others could get greater. The bottom line is we need to get 38 points. That means we have a lot of points to gain in our last 17 games. That will mean we must start winning again. We must stop conceding goals as that's the only way we can start winning games."