West Bromwich Albion are currently in a whole world of trouble, and sit rock-bottom of the Premier League table.
West Brom have endured a woeful campaign so far this season, and currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, seven points adrift of safety.
Alan Pardew is under intense pressure, and has failed to make the impact that was expected of him when he was handed the reigns at the Hawthorns in November.
There is a glimmer of hope for the Baggies, though, with their next five games in the Premier League representing a real chance for them to get some points on the board quickly.
There are, of course, no easy games in the top flight, although West Brom’s next five fixture are all winnable on paper.
They face three home games against Leicester City, Burnley and Swansea City and two away matches against Watford and Bournemouth over the course of the next five weeks, so what points return should they realistically be targeting from those outings?
Watford (a), 03/03/2018:
On paper, the Hornets away represent a strong challenge, but they have lost five games already at home this season. The Baggies are capable of winning the game, but a point would be a decent result.
Leicester (h), 10/03/2018:
This will be a game that West Brom absolutely must take maximum points from. The Foxes are a dangerous side, but Pardew’s men must keep their hopes of survival alive by taking the game to the visitors.
Bournemouth (a) 17/03/2018:
Eddie Howe’s men have been extremely inconsistent this season, but on their day they are a good match for any side.
West Brom will have to play hard and aggressive, in an attempt to disrupt the Cherries’ passing fluidity. This is a game they should be looking to win, but again, a draw would be sufficient.
Burnley (h), 31/03/2018:
Sean Dyche’s side are notoriously hard to play against, but Padrew will surely be targeting this game as an absolute must win.
If the home crowd get behind the players they have every chance of beating the Clarets.
Swansea (h), 07/04/2018:
Another must win. If the Baggies take six points from their home games against Burnley and Swansea, they have every chance of staying up, and despite Carlos Carvalhal’s side’s recent resurgence, this is arguably their most winnable game out of the five match run.
The Black Country outfit should be targeting nine points from their three home games, and two from their two away fixtures during the five-game run.
Realistically, though, three wins from the five should be their target. That would put them on 29 points with five games to go.
The trouble for West Brom, though, is that they face Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham in their last five games of the season, so it could be argued that they need more than nine points from their next five outings.
The one thing they must do, though, is give themselves a fighting chance, and anything less than a return of three wins from their next five fixtures will surely end their hopes of survival this season.
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