Five talking points from West Brom's FA Cup defeat to Southampton

1 LONG ROAD BACK FOR GARETH BARRY

The veteran midfielder had hoped to play one more season before retiring, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely to be at The Hawthorns. The Albion fans booed him off the pitch when he was hooked in the second half, and his dreadful performance less than 60 hours after that fateful night out in Barcelona will not be forgotten quickly.

Barry has been impressive since Alan Pardew took over, but in hindsight, the former Aston Villa midfielder should have been dropped for Sam Field on Saturday. He struggled.

2 JAMES MCCLEAN SHOWS HIS WORTH

Albion’s best performer showed up some of this team-mates with the sort of hunger and desire that was lacking elsewhere. He’s had a tricky season in Baggies colours, and has cost the team several points through his reckless behaviour late on. But when he harnesses his passion in the right ways he can be effective.

Albion are going to need more performances like his in the run-in if they’re going to give themselves a fighting chance. Even if they don’t stay up, it’s better to go down swinging than limp off lamely into the night.

3 BAGGIES HUFF AND PUFF BUT FAIL AGAIN

Wasting chances has been one of the underlying themes of this season, and it manifested itself in this game. Albion had 23 shots to Southampton’s five, and still managed to lose.

Salomon Rondon’s volley was a goal of the season contender, but he’d probably have swapped it for five tap-ins in the league. Even though Albion hit the bar and Alex McCarthy was in inspired form, this is not just down to luck, but an inability to make pressure count in the final third.

4 PARDEW SHOULD HAVE DROPPED THE CAB FOUR

His senior players left him in a difficult situation, and if Albion weren’t so desperate for a win, they may have been left out. Pardew also needs to keep the players onside if he’s got any hope of keeping the team up this season, but leaving Gareth Barry and Jonny Evans in the side was weak management that would only be accepted if Albion won.

It sends the wrong message to the other players during a critical period of the club’s season. He should have punished them more harshly and given everyone a kick up the backside.

5 PRESSURE STARTING TO BUILD ON THE HEAD COACH

It was only three weeks ago that it looked like Pardew’s early promise had started to materialise, but after the events in Barcelona, there are huge question marks over his future.

Owner Guochuan Lai has shown his ruthless side recently, and he will not be happy that his club is now a laughing stock. Pardew is on thin ice, and the home match with Huddersfield has taken on even more significance than it had previously. But the question is, would even more upheaval even help?