[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Slipping to defeat last weekend leaves Albion in need of points again, with a fairly inauspicious set of opportunities for acquiring them. The early kick-off tomorrow pits us against fourth-placed Sunderland, against whom we're winless since December 2022 and have lost our last two on the bounce at the Hawthorns; indeed, if they make it a hat-trick on Saturday then it'll be their first time doing so since 1894. Albion at last have a decent home record under Tony Mowbray, but the fear that we concede too easily after huffing and puffing in search of goals of our own has risen once again in recent weeks, and the Black Cats are comfortably good enough to punish any mistakes at the back. Another draw isn't really what we need right now, but it might end up being the best we can do.

On balance - even allowing for our dismal away record, now the third-worst we've ever had outside the top flight - Tuesday night's trip to Ashton Gate may end up being a better chance to accrue points, as Bristol City haven't beaten us in two and a half years, and four clean sheets on the bounce against them is among the best streaks we've managed against any club in our history. One way or another, four points in this coming week is the minimum we have to target if we're going to keep the pace in the playoff race.