Albion were on a downward spiral and heading back towards the Championship when Hodgson replaced Roberto Di Matteo in early February. A sequence of 16 points from nine matches under the former Liverpool boss had ensured top flight survival with still three matches remaining - including Sunday's derby at Wolves. But Hodgson prefers for his players to receive the plaudits rather than himself. Hodgson said: "We've suffered only one defeat in nine games and I think we've taken an average of virtually two points per game. "For me, that is really an incredible performance. Only Manchester United at the moment have an average of something like two points per game. "For us to achieve that in the last nine matches speaks volumes for the players. "Any praise or plaudits that come their way, they've more than deserved." Albion have also emulated the never-say-die approach to games of the Red Devils in becoming the comeback kings of the Premier League this season. They have collected 26 points this season from matches where they have been in arrears. Hodgson said: "Good teams do that. If you've got a good team of players who believe in themselves, who believe in what they are doing, they don't give up. "It's a weak team that goes a goal behind and suddenly loses discipline, loses its shape and loses its faith and belief. "There are not many weak teams in the Premier League and we can certainly point to many of our results to prove that we aren't. "You don't need to be Roy Hodgson or Sir Alex Ferguson or any other manager at this level to tell the players never to give up. "Your job is to find players you recruit to your club who are capable of doing it. "The message is simple. Having the players with the guys and the character and the guts to do it, that's another matter altogether." Hodgson may have stopped Albion's trait of yo-yoing between the top two divisions but he knows much work lies ahead to establish the club as a Premier League force. He said: "What most teams fear in their second season in the Premier League is relegation with that second season syndrome. "I think we need to be more than aware that it's been a great achievement this year - but it might be an even greater achievement to stay up next year. "At the moment we've achieved one important goal. We have stayed in the Premier League. "Then my advice to the club will be 'let's consolidate, build on the foundations, keep our heads down and remain modest'. "Then, if we survive next year as well, who knows? "Looking at the third year we would be getting stronger. That's the way for me it's got to go." Baggies will be without midfielder Paul Scharner for the Wolves clash. The former Wigan player will have to serve a one match ban for his sending-off against Aston Villa last weekend. Defender Steven Reid (calf) and skipper Chris Brunt (hamstring) are again major doubts.
