[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

No way past Wile, Batson and Statham for Southampton at the Hawthorns, 10th March 1979

For fans of ill omens, the FA Cup has a habit of doubling up fixtures on us in quick succession. In 2012 we had to play Norwich in both league and cup within a fortnight, and contrived to lose both. In 2015 we played Villa twice in a week, and lost both. This year sees us do it against Southampton, having already lost the first effort, and with our team still injury-hit there's every chance we may make it three in a row.

Still, after team-building in Barcelona this week, maybe Albion can surprise us all. The league is fast getting away from us, so the cup seems as good a consolation as any. Having already done for Liverpool, as we did fifty years ago, can we also replicate the heroics of '68 by giving the Saints their marching orders too?