Talk is cheap according to Albion manager Bryan Robson and he believes it is time his team started walking the walk.

The talk has been talked during Albion's poor run - only one point out of a possible 15.

However, words off the pitch have not been backed up by actions on it and Albion's manager believes the time for excuses is over.

Woeful defending has been the main problem and it struck again on Saturday as Charlton scored with their first meaningful attack.

There can be no more excuses, as Robson is in danger of sounding like a stuck record regarding individual errors.

Robson, speaking at a presentation ceremony to mark the first anniversary of Albion's successful ACES Programme, is expecting a response from his team when they play at Blackburn next week.

He said: "I am hoping that being in the bottom three is a wake-up call. We have got to start improving now as we don't want to wait until Christmas before we start playing. We need the improvement to start against Blackburn.

" I think we are under-achieving. And we can't keep talking about it; the players have got to do it on the pitch.

"I was disappointed by a few performances in the first half against Charlton, as we had a solid performance at Sunderland with the same team.

"We weren't anywhere near as solid in the first half and that is what disappoints me and gives you question marks as a manger.

"I wouldn't say we are right back to square one because there are good points to come out of the game.

"You can talk for as long as you want but if you are slack then you will get punished in the Premiership. That is what is happening with us at present - we are giving poor goals away.

"Sunderland and Charlton scored with their first attack and that doesn't give you a solid formation to build from.

"We have got to give ourselves a solid foundation where we can get a good performance but, until we stop giving goals away, we are going to make our lives difficult."

Robson appears to be relishing, rather than dreading, the task ahead. He said: "In the main I have been pleased with our away performances this season so we should go to Blackburn in a good frame of mind.

" We were solid at Manchester City and, with a bit of good fortune, could have won the game. For half an hour in the first half we played our best football of the season but we didn't have anything to hang on to

"Chelsea didn't have a shot until we gifted them two goals and then the game drifts away from you.

"Blackburn will be sharp with Craig Bellamy up front but we possess quick players in defence, so you would hope we can deal with that."

Meanwhile, Albion's 23-year-old winger Lloyd Dyer has joined Queens Park Rangers on a month-long loan and is in the squad for their match against Milwall tonight. He will be available

for a further five fixtures during his 28-day loan spell.

Dyer, yet to make a firstteam appearance for Albion this season, appeared four times in the Premiership last year. He has has scored two goals in an Albion shirt, having had previous loan experience at Kidderminster Harriers and Coventry City.

* Sandwell Local Education Authority, in partnership with West Bromwich Albion's Community Programme, have joined forces for a £2 million project funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The partnership engages 1,200 young people from Sandwell high schools and has contributed to Sandwell's best examination results.