[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

So, with an unexpected but welcome point under our belt, we prepare for the main event.  Since the woeful spectacle of the Everton match in September, we've managed a string of increasingly impressive performances and taken seven points - a decent spell of form by any measure - but now comes the real test; four matches in just over a fortnight, comprising a cup tie against beatable opposition and three league games against teams currently below us in the table.  We've seen some promising things from this Albion team; now to make sure the job gets done when it matters.

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

Without wanting to get too carried away, during the first half-hour against Manchester United - and at a few other points when we managed to break out of their increasing stranglehold - there were flashes of an Albion team I'd thought were long gone.  You'd have to wind the clock back at least to the days of Roberto Di Matteo, or perhaps even Tony Mowbray, to see such crisp, high-tempo one-touch passing executed so well by our players, and it was achieved against a team who remain a huge force in the Premier League in spite of their recent problems.  Comfortable possession of the ball coupled with the continuing form of Saido Berahino could potentially spell a very good season for Albion.

But of course, we need to rid ourselves of that gremlin which has dogged us in recent years (no, not Paul Merson); the propensity to deliver great performances against top teams which produce only draws or narrow defeats, and then doze off against more humble opposition and end up thinking ourselves lucky when we scrape another draw.  Crystal Palace are still a highly-organised team, especially away from home, and will be looking to shut us out and hit fast on the counter.  And of course, there's the effect of Colin; forever a thorn in our side and no doubt already clued-up on every possible threat we can pose and every weakness that can be exploited.  Having now lost two on the bounce, Palace will be highly-motivated to get a result on Saturday.  Quite simply, we have to want it more.  Let's keep our heads screwed on and get that job done.

Classic Match

West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Crystal Palace

Football League Division One: 17th April 2002

Need I say more?

[BaggieMan]

Ska'd, having supported the Baggies from boy, to man to old bugger, we have always seemed to struggle against lesser opposition but that did change against Burnley. Hopefully, we will repeat that with another 4-0 against Palearse minus Pulis. And if we carry on the recent form, there is no reason we won't.

[Bournemouth Baggie]

Quote from Colin " It's disappointing when you see managers and players trying to influence referees" Laughed so much I spilt my skinny latte. Hypocritical cretin

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Looking at the weekend's other fixtures, we've got a real shot at some upward mobility this Saturday. Obviously upsets do happen, but if the big boys and form teams do their job, we'll hopefully see defeats for at least a few out of West Ham, Hull, Stoke, Sunderland, Burnley and Newcastle, and you can toss a coin for what happens between Swansea & Leicester and QPR & Villa.

The top half would probably be just out of reach, but we could potentially sit about 11th with a win and be five points clear of the drop zone. That would make for a decent month's work in October and give us some real momentum for those other upcoming crunch matches.

[Zinman]

I think this one could be hard work. Palace will sit deep to prevent Saido from getting behind them and hope to catch us on the break. It's vital we score first to open them up - we may have put 4 past Burnley but until we scored from a set piece we struggled to break them down. I suspect we'll go with an unchanged team (except for Foster) but I wouldn't mind seeing Sess and Saido playing slightly behind Big Vic.

[wba_1996]

I'd go with an unchanged team (except Foster in for Myhill), Ideye has to come off the bench in this one - give him a chance either to get us back into the game if losing, score the winner if drawing or to extend our lead if we are ahead and they are exposed - he needs the confidence and a run in the team.

[WBA-Josh]

I would like to see Myhill keep his place even if Foster is back because he did nothing wrong against Man Utd and every player in the squad, including those that will be considered as undroppable or irreplaceable, needs to know that they're not guaranteed to start every week.

The rest of the team should be kept the same because even though I want to see Blanco, Gamboa and some of the others in the starting 11, the current team is settled and is working well as a unit.

[meandbrenarebaggies]

Not a betting person but....what sort of odds could I expect if I wished to bet that The Albion will win their next four games? Can any of you betting types say?

[Luke_East_Baggie]

I'm assuming your classing Bournemouth in one of our next 4 matches??

Were currently 17/10 to beat Bournemouth

Were 10/11 to win against Palace at the moment (so almost 50-50 for you non betting types) and at the moment we are 12/5 to beat leicester.

So just to win our next 3 games is about 17/1.

Were then at home to Newcastle - I can't get the odds for that, but must be a bit better than evens..

....So you are looking at 17/1 to win our next 3, and probably looking at about 40/1 to win our next 4.

[talkSAFT]

You know, I quite like Crystal P.
Their fans are alright, so's the team.
But that 'orrible man
With the apt anagram -
Colin W*nker - spoils it for me.