West Brom v Fulham: It’s make or break as Baggies start run against drop rivals

In their next seven games – the Baggies come face-to-face with five of their relegation rivals.

If they don’t get a significant points haul from those fixtures, the reality is an instant return to the Championship will be inevitable.

Sam Allardyce knows it. The boss is happy to admit it.

And it all starts tomorrow when Fulham visit The Hawthorns.

Scott Parker’s side arrive sitting just two points and one place above the Baggies in the Premier League table.

It’s almost impossible to think of a scenario where both teams survive this season.

And for that reason, it feels like a must-win game – even if it is still January.

If Albion are going to take all three points, though, there has to be an immediate improvement from the shocking display against Manchester City.

It is important to stress Pep Guardiola’s side did play exceptionally well as they cruised to their 5-0 win on Tuesday.

But they were helped by some woeful Albion defending.

City’s players were given free rein to shoot from distance because they weren’t closed down properly. Clearances weren’t made leading to easy goals. And lazy decisions were also made against some of the best players in the world.

That failure to do the basics right is why Allardyce decided to lock his players in the dressing room for an hour-and-a-half after full-time.

It’s why he told them a “series of home truths” as he made it abundantly clear they have to improve.

Now all Albion fans have to hope that dressing down is a turning point and the wake-up call the players need.

After the FA Cup defeat to League One Blackpool, Jake Livermore told the players some home truths in a team meeting called on the pitch at Bloomfield Road.

They responded by beating Wolves and putting in a decent display at West Ham that was unlucky to end in defeat.

This time around, though, they can’t just do it for one or two games. They have to find a level of consistency that has so far eluded them.

You would expect Allardyce will make a number of changes from the loss to City.

Kyle Bartley has arguably been Albion’s best defender since the Dudley-chief took charge.

He was surprisingly left on the bench against Guardiola’s men – perhaps with one eye on tomorrow.

And he will surely resume his central defensive partnership with Semi Ajayi in a move that will likely see Dara O’Shea shift to right-back.

Another change needs to be made in midfield with Romaine Sawyers really struggling for form. His languid style leads to accusations from some fans that he does not care.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

But he is out of form and it’s has got to the stage where it is almost unfair to play him ahead of Conor Gallagher.

Gallagher too was somewhat surprisingly rested against City.

But again you can’t help but feel that was with one eye on tomorrow.

Asked why Bartley and Gallagher didn’t play against City, Allardyce said: “We can’t keep playing the same players all the time because of the demands.

“Because we are playing Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday we have to try and use the squad as best we possibly can.”

With the Baggies travelling to Sheffield United on Tuesday, they have to be at their best for that fixture – just like they have to be at their best tomorrow.

It really is crunch-time – with four points from those games having to be worst case scenario.

One other decision Allardyce may have to make is whether to throw Mbaye Diagne straight into his side. The Baggies have agreed to sign the striker on loan from Galatasaray but the deal had not be completed at the time of writing.

If Albion do sign Diagne before noon today though, Allardyce may be tempted to put him in – especially as the Baggies have only scored 15 league goals all season.