[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Albion's first-team players listen to the FA Cup Third Round draw in the car park, December 1962

Having slipped into the relegation zone at the weekend and failed to emerge again despite a brave fight against Man Utd, Albion have two chances this Christmas to lever ourselves out of the drop zone against teams who've also struggled through the autumn.

First comes a trip to the Britannia on Saturday, and though it's always a tough place to visit, I'd say this is perhaps our first real must-win game of the season. We can't afford another slip-up like the one at Swansea, for fear of being cut adrift. There have been definite signs of improvement in the last two matches, and this has to start translating into results.

On Boxing Day we welcome an improved Everton to the Hawthorns, having steered their way into the top half under Sam Allardyce and riding high in the form table. They seem pretty imperious at the moment, but are due a slip-up at some point, and we can only hope that Albion have it in them to give us a late Christmas present.

Here's hoping we can approach the New Year in a healthier position.