[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

A win against Brighton, however fortunate it may have been, gives Albion a slender window of opportunity going into March. And the month begins with two home games in four days, the first against Everton on Thursday evening, and the second - a truly crucial clash - against Newcastle on Sunday.

Everton, fresh from their back-to-back wins against Southampton and Liverpool and still well in the mix to challenge for 2nd place in the league, will be formidable opponents. However, they're no strangers to a slip-up here and there, the most recent being a 2-0 home defeat against Fulham on Valentine's Day. Our last triumph over the Toffees at the Hawthorns came under Steve Clarke way back in September 2012, and that record is unlikely to change this week. However, coupled with a positive performance, a draw would be a welcome result.

On the other hand, in the survival stakes, nothing except a win will do against Newcastle. They brought a dire six-week winless run to an end about a month ago, and have notched up another few points since then, but remain highly inconsistent. We can't hope for the kind of luck we had against Brighton two weekends in a row, so Albion will have to be at the races from start to finish on Sunday afternoon, VAR and all.

[Baggievicar]

Looks as if the Toon have a couple of injuries to key players, which ought to help us. Ought to...

[talkSAFT]

Everton TONIGHT...........Can't ever remember a Thursday League match before. Anyone?

[Baggievicar]

I'm not watching, just keeping an eye on the score. Everyone else on holiday?

[Baggie_One]

Sorry my lord I’m watching

Very positive performance so far, over 40% possession which tells you everything

Just a lack of finishing really, but quite impressive so far.

[baggietrousers]

Fairly solid all round apart from Pereira who looks totally disinterested, and it shows. Everyone else putting a shift in.

[Slick_Footwork]

Not doing too bad, getting bodies in the box and looking threatening.

But you do feel Everton will score from one of our cock ups though. Already made one and Johnstone managed to save the one on one with Calvert-Lewin, so I just hope it's out of our system now.

The one frustration, yet again, is Pereira. His defensive contribution is none existent so when he's bringing nothing to the attacking fray, it's like playing with 10 men. His 'attempt' to stop Godfrey's break was unacceptable IMO. Really hope Big Sam hauls him off and puts Snodgrass or Robinson on. I don't care how talented he is on rare occasions, his attitude stinks and I'm sick of the team flooded with this half arsed type of player. It's the reason we stumbled to promotion last year and had no 2nd gear in the must win games. He's made one tackle and that was on Mailand-Niles and one sprint to take the ball off Gallagher. He needs to learn it's a team sport. He'll never make it at this level unless he starts doing a bit more grafting, because unfortunately he's too slow to be a total luxury player.

[BaggieSteve]

Fairly solid all round apart from Pereira who looks totally disinterested, and it shows.  Everyone else putting a shift in.

I don’t think Pereira has realised you don’t get as much time to play as you do in the Championship. I don’t think he’s disinterested, I just think he wants too much time and he’s not getting it

[Baggie_One]

God darn it

[wba13]

We now look a decent side , we are a lot better since the new boys have come in and Yokuslu is a brilliant find by Allardyce. No matter what happens tonight we now have a side that is giving us a chance in matches . That goal was to easy. Bad defending.