Key lessons to learn with time running out for West Brom

Time is now running out for Sam Allardyce and his players to secure Premier League survival – with the team now effectively 12 points from safety due to their woeful goal-difference.

Here, we look at four talking points from the Tottenham game and how the Baggies move forward.

Pereira must start

There was one glaring omission from Albion’s team sheet against Spurs.

Despite having scored five goals in six games, Matheus Pereira was dropped to the subs bench.

It was a decision that led to a huge backlash on social media – with fans understandably angry to see their most creative player reduced to a bit-part role.

Sam Allardyce admitted post-match the Brazilian was unfortunate to miss out.

His reason, he said, was that he didn’t feel Pereira would suit the 4-3-3 system he tried to play – with the boss again appearing to question his work-rate off the ball.

Just as fans suspected, though, that decision was the wrong one.

In his 10 minutes from the bench, Pereira showed more invention on the ball than any other Albion player – with Robert Snodgrass perhaps the only exception.

He would have grabbed an exquisite assist had Mbaye Diange timed his run just fractionally better for the late goal he saw disallowed.

But Pereira offers more than creativity and a goal threat.

He is tenacious, he is committed and he does work hard – harder than some of his team mates who did get the nod against Spurs.

Even with him, Albion find it hard to score goals. Leaving him out was bizarre. He simply has to play.

Okay for a holding midfielder

Albion supporters have been crying out for their team to sign a defensive midfielder for what seems like an eternity.

One has finally arrived in the form of Yokuslu who, like Pereira, enjoyed a bright cameo against Spurs.

Having arrived in the country just a few days earlier, it would have been unfair to throw him straight into the team against Spurs.

The reality, though, is Albion now need him embedded into the team.

Neither Jake Livermore nor Romaine Sawyers are holding midfielders.

And continuing to persist with boyhood Baggie Sawyers in that role is frankly cruel.

The 29-year-old is immensely proud to pull on an Albion shirt every week. But he is out of form and playing in a role that doesn’t suit him.

That has led to him receiving criticism on social media that has been little short of despicable.

He needs to be utilised further forward or rested.

Albion need a natural holding midfielder. Therefore Yokuslu must play.

Have more possession

The lack of possession Albion have had in their last four games is alarming.

Against Tottenham, they had 31 per cent possession. Against Sheffield United, it rose to 32 per cent.

Against Fulham, it was slightly better with Allardyce men’s having 37 per cent possession.

But against Manchester City, it was an incredibly low 22 per cent.

In the Premier League, it doesn’t matter if you are playing City at the top of the table or Sheffield United at the bottom – every team has quality players.

And if you give them that much of the ball, they will create chances and score goals.

Albion have conceded a staggering 28 goals in the 10 games Allardyce has been in charge.

The boss is working relentlessly to try and shore up the defence.

But the reality is a clean sheet, even with an outstanding goalkeeper, looks a long way off.

And that means sitting back and hoping to nick a 1-0 is highly unlikely to happen.

If you’ve got the ball, you can’t concede.

Albion need to be more positive and have more of the ball.

United is a free hit

It seems crazy to say it with time running out, but Albion’s season is not going to be defined by what happens against Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s men on Sunday.

But it will, though, be defined by the four games after.

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

And Albion have to get a significant points haul from those games to have any chance of survival.

They were in a similar position a few weeks ago when they had back-to-back games against Fulham and Sheffield United.

The truth is they let those matches slip through their hands – with performances again not good enough.

This time there will be no second chance – they have to perform against sides also fearing the drop.

Of course a point – or even three – against United would be huge.

But if they don’t get a result, they have to at least have new recruits Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Yokuslu embedded into the team and ready to hit the ground running for a crucial clash against Burnley on February 20.