Albion sit one place and one point above the relegation zone heading into Monday's tough trip to Stoke. While they are only three points off 13th position, the Baggies are also just three off bottom-placed Wolves. Hodgson, whose side drew 1-1 with Wolves courtesy of Carlos Vela's added-time equaliser last weekend, insists everyone involved is aware of West Brom's precarious position and expects the players to step up in the remaining 11 matches of the season. "I don't think anyone needs to keep highlighting the fact this is not an easy job," Hodgson told his club's website. "People have been understanding and sympathetic of that so far. "People within the game, the media and other managers realise what the job is. "But, most importantly, we need to get over to the players how important the job is, so that they understand that their desire and fear of failure must be every bit as great as that of the board and the staff. "They have to share our burning ambition to stay in this league because they can actually affect it. "If I was to go on the evidence of my one game in charge, I'd say there is that burning ambition because we were by no means bullied in a strong, physical game against Wolves - in fact we got an equaliser." West Brom have collected just eight points on the road this season and Hodgson believes improving their away form may be crucial to their survival chances. "I think we will need to win away, but our away record is shared by a number of clubs," he said. "It's not just West Brom who find it hard to win away. "But we do need some 'three-pointers' and, more importantly at this stage, we need to hang on in there and give ourselves a chance. "It's going to go down to the wire and be very close between four or maybe five teams with a couple of others still not out of it, although Blackpool took a nice step forward on Tuesday (beating Tottenham). "Even the teams on 31 or 32 points are not out of it because we all know that in the Premier League, if you're not one of the top teams, it's not difficult to lose three or four games in a row. "It happens to us all, so I am just hoping that we can cling on in there and make sure we don't get divorced and then somewhere that run will come. "One of the elements of that run will probably be trying to get an away result."
