5th January 2005: It's been a
mixed bag of results this week for Baggies fans. Wins for Blackburn
and Crystal Palace were unwelcome, but the defeat for Norwich keeps
them in the mire. Tonight's game between Southampton and Fulham was
a rollercoaster affair and perhaps a draw isn't a bad result.
I still have doubts about Fulham's staying power, particularly if
they lose some of their better players this month, as is eminently
possible. Boa Morte and Van Der Saar have so far failed to sign new
contracts, and Malbranque has been unsettled for a while. He and Boa
Morte, in particular, are key players without whom Fulham will struggle.
The point for Southampton keeps them on a nine game winless streak
and still within striking distance, and with Newcastle away and Liverpool
at home in their next two league matches, Albion have a chance to
overtake them.
A crucial issue from tonight's game is that Andy Cole received his
fifth yellow card meaning that he will be suspended for the match
against Albion. With Preston's top scorer Richard Cresswell suspended
on Saturday, and Newcastle's key forwards all out on Monday evening,
maybe Lady Luck is starting to shine a little on us. It's just down
to the players to take advantage.
While Albion were on their losing streak, the other sides around them
were also losing more often than not which means that, despite having
three fewer points, Albion are no worse off than they were after 22
games. And if we're honest, two years ago we were playing as well
as we could with the squad we had, but still weren't getting the results;
at least this time, we know we can play better with this squad.
Just as it was two years ago, the next two months will determine whether
Albion will have a chance of staying up. Then, we picked up one win
and two draws from the following eleven Premiership games, although
the home draw against Bolton and defeat to West Ham in the fourth
and sixth matches of that run were the most crucial.
This time around, four out of the next five games are against sides
battling against relegation. The trips to Fulham and Norwich and the
home games against Palace and Southampton will prove crucial.
It's time for the players, plus any new additions, to stand up and
be counted.
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