Lewis Cox's West Brom analysis: Weekend of change and fresh test for ailing Baggies

Despite the inconsistencies which have plagued Albion's season they had remained in the top six for much of the campaign. It is some time since Albion did not occupy fifth or sixth - which has said much about the poor standard of this year's Championship.

That is not the case now, though. As Albion supporters now see their side down in eighth, three points adrift of the play-offs, after a winless run of four and back-to-back 1-0 defeats.

Sunderland's victory at The Hawthorns via a first-half Trai Hume winner from goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith's error typified the Albion mood at the moment and did very little to inspire with six games remaining.

All too often this season rivals have tripped over each other and been totally incapable of putting victories together to punish one another.

Now, at the crunch time, Tony Mowbray's men have slipped up and have finally been punished. It was only going to be a matter of time with such inconsistent form.

Coventry, one of the quartet realistically fighting for the two available spots, have also slipped up with consecutive defeats and it is Middlesbrough and Bristol City's turn to take advantage in fifth and sixth.

The latter, of course, welcome Mowbray's men to Ashton Gate on Tuesday night for sixth against eighth. Albion must show they have it in them to win away from The Hawthorns for just a second time since September.

Even the most optimistic, glass-half-full Baggie will not hold out too much hope down in Bristol.

Consecutive one-goal defeats with no goals scored has badly checked momentum in the run-in after the final international break.

The fixture list never looked easy. Norwich have had a poor season but Carrow Road has been hard work in recent years. Then came this current three-game week of Sunderland - fourth for much of the campaign - Bristol City and and 10th-placed Watford.

Then then there is Coventry after that.

Confidence in the Albion ranks appears to be dwindling after a winless run and belief in the fanbase has certainly ebbed away after Albion's improving form of six games unbeaten under Mowbray transformed into toothless defeats.

Sunderland's victory increased the spotlight on Wildsmith further. The goalkeeper cost his side points with a major error at Burnley last month and has been unconvincing in a few other moments but has retained the support of Mowbray since he replaced Alex Palmer in January.

Mowbray now surely has a decision on his hands ahead of Ashton Gate? This high-profile gaffe to allow Hume's tame free-kick through his reach was unforgivable and it was no surprise he offered up an apology and accepted the blame afterwards.

Josh Griffiths is waiting in the wings. Mowbray suggested, as he has before, a change is unlikely. But Wildsmith is facing intense pressure.

Replays showed Wildsmith could have caught the effort but he went with his wrong hand and somehow got nowhere near enough contact to make the save.

Before and after that 35th-minute decider Albion had some decent chances as Darnell Furlong's effort was cleared off the line and Jayson Molumby somehow sent a free header well wide from six yards out.

The second half, or certainly minutes 45 to 70, was more of a struggle until some of Mowbray's changes made a difference and there was a semblance of clear chances. Until that point there was huff and puff and half-promising positions followed by blocked shots, skewed efforts and crosses high and low off target.

Adam Armstrong was once again lacking. The on-loan Southampton man had Karlan Grant up in support but Armstrong had precious few, if any, openings at goal and was on the periphery like at Norwich seven days before.

Mowbray made the point Albion were the better side and generally attacked well, or rather attacked how they planned and succeeded in getting beyond the Sunderland backline.

But the head coach admitted, as was clear, the end product badly lacked and it has been the story of Albion's season. The goal return is paltry. Albion have been toothless since Josh Maja's injury more than three months ago.

Tom Fellows' and Daryl Dike's introduction on the hour made a difference, as did new boy Tammer Bany's promising 20-minute cameo. But they were not enough.

The hosts managed 21 efforts but just a measly three on target. Sunderland only needed seven shots for three on target - and one, barely a threat, proved the winner.

Forty-eight goals in 40 league games is beyond alarming and tells a sorry story.

Out-of-sorts Albion now have to win games at this crunch stage to make up the ground to reach the top six. An injury setback for midfielder Isaac Price and potentially defender Torbjorn Heggem adds to Baggie woes.

It will be a question of character - character that has been questioned. Regular wins have not been forthcoming and more dropped points in this tricky run of fixtures will result in a three-point gap growing.

The Baggies have barely won away all season and they have not won consecutively since September - something I've written in these column inches so often.

They will need to buck those trends to make the cut now and the confidence in them doing so is ebbing away.