Mark Lawrenson predicts West Brom clash v Southampton
Mark Lawrenson predicts West Brom to come crashing back to reality when they host Southampton at The Hawthorns on Monday.
Sam Allardyce and his charges produced the result of round 30 when they stunned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend and waltzed away from West London with a huge 5-2 victory.
That win has seemingly breathed new life into a fading Premier League survival challenge but Lawrenson has moved to shut down any such talk.
Writing his weekly predictions on the BBC Sport website, he said: “Both of these had excellent wins last time out, and in Southampton’s case their comeback victory over Burnley means they have 36 points – which should keep them up.
“West Brom’s 5-2 success at Chelsea was absolutely stunning and everything about their display was excellent, but their prospects look very different – for me, they have left themselves too much to do to get out of trouble.”
The former Liverpool defender backs the away side to head back down south with a 2-0 win in tow.
Eyes off the prize?
Southampton were in danger of being pulled into the relegation battle themselves after a winless eight-game streak but a couple of victories in their last four looks to have nearly dragged them to safety.
They probably need just one more win to be sure but they have more important fish to fry in the FA Cup next weekend as they take on Leicester City for a place in the final.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will only have five days to rest and recuperate ahead of that showdown clash so could they have one eye on that fixture?
We can’t see them resting a whole host of players given their wafer-thin squad but perhaps they won’t have full focus on their Premier League encounter with the Albion, and that’s something to cling onto.
Our wonderful win at Chelsea should instil more confidence in the team and Big Sam will know this represents one of our best chances to take three points from our remaining eight fixtures – nothing else will suffice.
If we make it successive victories then Lawro may just be looking over his shoulder as his forthright prediction begins to creep up on him.
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