[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

After years of meekly bowing out of the cup at the earliest opportunity, this is one season when the world's oldest knockout competition does feel like a distraction that Albion can ill afford. With a paper-thin squad, we're barely hanging on to the coat-tails of the promotion race, and can't afford any more injuries or suspensions going into next week's huge six-pointer against Norwich.

That said, there's always something special about it, and if we can make it through with a second string side then it's all to the good. But there's no doubting where the focus has to be over the next ten days.