[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.

[Baggievicar]

I'd love to believe that history makes a difference re Bristol City but I can't see that it does - we are where we are. I'll be astonished (and relieved) if we pick up more than one point this week.

[Salopbaggie]

0-1 I am done with Wildsmith, just to many mistakes we can not afford. There is no way he should have let that one in, aweful keeping. I can see any chance of a play off place slipping away, though I can't get rid of the though even if we get to the playoff final it will be against Coventry and a certain BTA will score the winner.

[4evaabaggie]

Sorry to say it but I can’t see us holding on to a playoff spot, we have been there all season but too many draws and very poor performances in front of goal have cost us. It will continue in the same vein until the seasons end, I struggle to see us getting ten more points, hope and pray that I’m wrong but head over heart tells me we’re doomed.

The form of the other teams in the hunt with us all exceed our current returns, we can’t score and I can’t see Wildsmith keeping a clean sheet.

Outplayed Norwich …. Couldn’t score, hit with a sucker punch, outplaying Sunderland, then concede from a free kick. Haven’t seen it but Salop reckons he should have stopped it, I have not been impressed with him since the fleetwood game, if you can’t score you need a colossus between the sticks, that we ain’t got.
Please let me be wrong!

Come on you baggies

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Burnley trying to help us, winning two one at Coventry.
Keeps us on the coat tails of sixth but we have to do our own work.
If Bristol get anything today we could be eighth by five o’clock.

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We have had nine shots, only one on target, three off and five blocked. Are Sunderland trying to hold on to what they have or are they waiting for a sucker punch moment to make it two. Any thoughts from those watching?

[Salopbaggie]

but Salop reckons he should have stopped it, I have not been impressed with him since the fleetwood game, if you can’t score you need a colossus between the sticks, that we ain’t got.

I think you think the same when you see it, it was fast but it looked like he could have probably caught it, certainly he should have palmed it away but it looked like he tried to punch it and 'sort of missed'.

[Minizin]

So many basics wrong today. Lots of possession, lots of territory - but aimless crosses, poor passes, and obviously the goalkeeping. Getting hard to see what Mowbray is aiming for

[4evaabaggie]

Another defeat, another poor return in front of goal, 21 shots, three on target. Teams know how to play us. We can not play thorough teams so pack the defence block long range shots coming in, score on the break. Out played Sunderland, nothing to show for it, that will be the epitaph for this season.

Tony is not doing his Albion rep any favours, took over with us in a strong position, now we are out of the top six, I can’t see where a win is coming from and how we will get back in. No longer in our hands.

Four wins, four draws and five defeats. Less than 33% win rate. Once again we chose the easy option rather than the right option. Why is managing Albion such a poison chalice, why do we fail to get a decent manager in. Tony had his time with us, he got us promoted, shouldn’t have returned. They say never go back. This is why.

Frustrated at the constant failure of a decent squad.

[Blue Baggie]

It's all over for us now. We've thrown it away. I can only blame TM he's not utilised players correctly. He strengthened our attacking options but never got us pressing enough and his new SKP has been a total flop. No wonder we got him on a loan.
Another season over let's make sure we have a new manager next season who can play an attack minded game and get us scoring goals.
Thank you Tony your a spent force. You can go and take AA your premier goal scorer with you.

[4evaabaggie]

Still a few straws left.
We can clutch at them for a little longer.

Not withstanding our atrocious away form a win at Bristol coupled with Leeds beating borough on Tuesday and we're back in the top six, if Coventry fail to win as well we would be fifth. Either all on 60 or Coventry on 59.

There will be twists and turns, but if we fail to best Bristol then it will probably be all over. It is now a must win game.

On paper, we have three difficult games and three not so difficult, still tough but not so difficult.

Probably need at least fifteen points out of eighteen.

[drewks]

Awh come on everyone!
1)We are "The Baggies" - a club that ALWAYS flatters to deceive.
2) TM has inherited a squad not of his choosing. I still think he's worth giving a lot of slack to
3) With how football and the greed league is, would we rather be a relatively big fish in the Championship pool or small fry in the PL?
I understand that our new owner is a decent, fair sort of guy. Let's be patient, have a few years of stability and building, and see where we are then.

Just MY thoughts, obviously