West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster has claimed that Steve Clarke was "unlucky" to be sacked as manager of the club.

Clarke was dismissed by the Baggies on December 14 following a disappointing start to the season.

However, Foster believes that the Scot should have been allowed more time at The Hawthorns to turn results around.

"There are quite a few names being mentioned and in all honesty some of them are top-class managers," Clubcall.com quotes him as saying. "I feel for Steve Clarke really, though. He is a good bloke and a good coach. I think he has just been a bit unlucky.

"Some of the results we have had have been totally not warranted. We have been a lot better value than some of the results we have been getting."

West Brom are back in Premier League action on Boxing Day when they make the trip to Tottenham Hotspur.