Express & Star

Chris Baird: Make the next two games count

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Defender Chris Baird has urged Albion to seize the moment by ending any lingering relegation fears in the next nine days. more

Baird is targeting maximum points from back-to-back home games against the Premier League's bottom two.

And the Northern Ireland international reckons wins against QPR tomorrow and Leicester next Saturday would guarantee survival for Tony Pulis's men, who are currently eight points clear of the drop zone but face the toughest run-in of all the sides in the bottom half of the table.

"We know we're on 33 points, we know these next two games are vital for us and if we get two victories that will put us on 39 and for me that's pretty much us safe because it's so close to that 40-point mark," said Baird, who is a leading contender to replace the suspended Craig Dawson at right-back against Rangers.

"But we have to concentrate on the first game, which is QPR, and take it from there.

"We looked at this break for some of the players who haven't been away for internationals and we saw the next two games against teams who are in the relegation battle.

"They're not easy games but we're at home, we're playing very well so everyone is fit and raring to go and stay in the relegation battle.

"It's a massive game for both teams. With the situation they're in you would say they need the points more than us but we're at home, where we're doing really well at the minute, and we're going to go into the game looking to get three points.

"That would pull us a lot clearer of the relegation battle so we'll be looking to put in a performance and get three points."

Rangers head for The Hawthorns on the back of five straight defeats and with just one win from their last 13 Premier League games.

That has left Chris Ramsey's men odds-on for relegation but Baird insists the Baggies will not be taking them lightly.

"Their form has been disappointing, especially their away form," said 33-year-old Baird.

"They've only won once on the road this season.

"But we're under no illusions that it's going to be an easy game for us just because we're at home.

"It's going to be a hard game. There are no given games for three points in the Premier League so we're fully focused on the job we have to do and we have to go out and get the victory."

With Rangers and Leicester becoming cut adrift at the foot of the table, they appear likely to drop into the Championship.

But Baird believes the battle for survival is still too close to call.

He said: "I still think it's really hard to predict. I still think it's between six or seven teams and that's not including us because I'm hopeful we're going to pull away from it.

"I still think it's anyone's game and anyone from now until the end of the season picks up some good results and gets some momentum can see themselves safe."

Baird has started just eight Premier League games for the Baggies after joining on a free transfer in the summer.

But he insists he has no regrets about his switch to The Hawthorns.

He said: "I didn't expect to play as many games and I'm enjoying every minute.

"I always wanted to come here from the very first moment I got the phonecall and I am delighted to have the opportunity.

"It's every player's wish to play week in, week out, and that's not going to happen all the time but in the games I have played I think I've done really well and I'm enjoying it."