[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

On the tide of a three-game winning streak, Albion are borne down to the south coast on Saturday for a tough clash with relegated Southampton; the first time this fixture will be played in the Championship since the match that saw the Baggies promoted under Tony Mowbray in 2008. Indeed, in the modern era we've rarely met at this level beyond that two-season spell in the 2000s and another in the 1970s; you have to go back to November 1948 for the last time Albion beat Saints in the second tier. Happily, we've managed it reasonably often in the top flight, though Southampton has long been a problematic venue: victories at New Year 2016/17 and in spring 2013 are our only two triumphs in the last twenty-six attempts at both St Mary's and the Dell, and it doesn't promise to be any easier this time round with our opponents currently unbeaten in seven.

If there's a ray of hope, it's that the Saints haven't kept a clean sheet at home all season; it has, in fact, been over eight months since they last managed it. They rely on the likes of Adam Armstrong, Carlos Alcaraz and Che Adams to outscore opponents in an attacking 4-3-3, and for the most part it's been working; early autumn hammerings off Sunderland and Leicester and a 4-4 draw with Norwich in August seem to have been put behind them. But equally, Albion are no less transformed from the side we were a couple of months ago, and have shown an ability to go toe-to-toe with teams like Leeds and Preston on their patch. If it comes to the worst, after our recent results we can probably afford to take one on the chin this weekend, but a point would be a real boost going into the fortnight break.

[talkSAFT]

Pretty good effort by all accounts (mainly in 2nd half). And when we get the injured players back it s/b interesting.
Optimistic, compared to a year ago when we looked doomed for League 1. Just hope we can keep hold of Carlos!

[Blue Baggie]

Saints continue to be a hoo doo game for us. We at least deserved a point.
On to the next.