Tottenham v West Brom: Baggies looking for a boost against out-of-form Spurs

But while the pressure is mounting on Jose Mourinho at Tottenham, the situation at Albion is still far more bleak.

In the words of Sam Allardyce ‘time is running out’ if the Baggies want to stay in the Premier League.

A draw against relegation rivals Fulham was followed by a defeat to rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Allardyce had previously said four points had to be the bare minimum from those games.

Now, though, another opportunity has presented itself.

Tottenham have lost their last three games. That has seen Mourinho move to second favourite in the Premier League sack race.

And Spurs are also without a certain Harry Kane – a man who is, very simply, irreplaceable.

The reality is Albion’s season is likely to be defined by the four games that follow this clash against Spurs and Manchester United next weekend.

Burnley, Brighton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace are the teams next on the horizon.

If a significant points haul doesn’t arrive from those matches, the Baggies will be down.

But this clash at Tottenham represents a chance to get a result and some much-needed confidence into the group.

It will also give Allardyce time to bed in new recruits Ainsely Maitland-Niles and Okay Yokuslu so hopefully they are up to speed for that clash against Burnley on February 20.

Ever since he replaced Slaven Bilic as boss, Allardyce has believed Albion’s players are capable of getting results in the Premier League.

But he says basic errors are costing the team points week after week.

And he says it’s only when they cut them out will they start picking up results on a regular basis.

“My biggest problem is getting my players to play at their best on a more consistent level,” he said.

“We see it at certain points, but then we see lapses of concentration that cost us goals that could easily have been avoided.

“That’s my real target – to cut that out.

“Sometimes a game can be decided by something as simple as a bad clearance.

“There have been plenty of times when we have been in a position to clear the ball or clear the danger but the opposition have ended up scoring.

“That is the most disappointing thing for me, it’s about cutting out small errors.

“We’re only talking about clearing a ball correctly or making the right decision – it might just be you need to knock it out for a throw-in.

“That is what we have to be better at because that is what relieves pressure and helps you get out your own box.

“But we often don’t clear it properly, then there is a scuffle around that 18-yard area and the opposition end up scoring.

“I think the opposition have scored four or five goals like that in the last few games. If the opposition score a great goal, they score a great goal. But scruffy goals, we really need to cut out.”

Albion’s have struggled to keep the ball ever since Allardyce arrived with the team often having less than 40 per cent possession.

And the boss admits that is an area where they must improve.

“We have to get better at retaining possession because that eases pressure on you,” the 66-year- old continued.

“At Tottenham, we are going to have to defend for periods of time. But we have to use the ball better to ensure the opposition don’t continue to put pressure on us in the final third.”

Allardyce says it’s difficult to know if Spurs will be extra hungry to win tomorrow because of their recent defeats.

“You don’t know what the reaction will be,” the boss added.

“Sometimes you get the right reaction, sometimes you see a lack of confidence.

“What we can’t do it make it easy for Tottenham. The harder we make it, the longer we are in the game.

“We have to avoid conceding the first goal – which we did against Sheffield United.

“We have to use our possession well but also make sure we don’t allow Tottenham to score the first goal because that will lift their spirits and take the shackles off.

“We have to frustrate them and then exploit their weaknesses.”