WEST BROMWICH ALBION can bolster their chances of avoiding relegation by beating Southampton in their Premiership basement battle at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night.
The Baggies have been bottom of the table for the bulk of the season, but victory here - Stan James offer them at 11-8 - would lift them above the Saints as well as Norwich City, and give them renewed hope of beating the drop.
Bryan Robson’s team looked down and out when losing 5-0 at home to Liverpool on Boxing Day but, since then, have looked anything but a lost cause - losing just twice from eight starts. Those defeats were unlucky as well: they conceded a last-minute winner away to Fulham after squandering numerous chances and then lost by the odd goal in five, after having much the best of exchanges, away to Norwich.
Southampton are generally 11-5 to pick up three precious points, but their form on the road this season has been dire (they have picked up only two points from a possible 39 and scored just eight goals) and morale will hardly have been lifted by events at the weekend when they threw away a two-goal lead at home to Brentford in the FA Cup. The draw is also quoted at 11-5.
While West Brom and Southampton fight for survival, Ipswich Town are pressing hard for promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship.
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They were below-par when held 1-1 away to Preston on Friday night, but a win against Watford at Portman Road would take them nine points clear of third-placed Sunderland. With that kind of incentive, it will be a surprise if the Tractor Boys do not justify odds of 8-15 with Stan James. Watford have not managed an away win in 11 matches.