Aston Villa v West Brom: Pride at stake as Albion stare over precipice

But it’s not just points that are at stake when Albion take on Villa tomorrow – it is also pride.

The Baggies, as everyone knows, have endured a hugely disappointing season.

And their 3-0 humbling at Leicester on Thursday means they now effectively have one foot in the Championship.

To survive, boss Sam Allardyce believes they’ll need to win five of their remaining six games.

But while they have improved significantly under the 66-year-old in recent months, they have only won five matches all season.

The overall task in front of them looks to be an impossible one.

But what isn’t impossible is putting some pride back into the badge and also laying foundations from which Allardyce can take the team forward.

It still hasn’t been confirmed whether the Dudley-born chief will remain in charge of the Baggies next season if they do go down.

There have been reports saying a decision has been made.

But that simply is not true with Allardyce once again confirming this week he will sit down with the board at the end of the season.

The heavy defeat to Leicester aside, the former Sunderland and Crystal Palace boss has made a compelling case to remain in the hot seat over the past few months. His January recruitment was excellent.

He has transformed a side that shipped a hatful of goals into one that is now defensively sound.

And he has also played some excellent football along the way – most notably in the emphatic wins over Chelsea and Southampton.

But Allardyce knows the mood in the football changes very quickly.

And while he has done a lot to win Albion fans over, he will need a strong end to the campaign to ensure he has that crucial supporter backing next season.

He simply cannot allow Albion to go down with a whimper.

And beating Villa and Wolves in their next two outings would go a long way to making Allardyce undroppable in the eyes of the majority of supporters.

On top of that, they would keep their faint hopes of surviving in the Premier League alive.

And it would also ensure Albion supporters got some much-needed bragging rights in a campaign where, overall, they have had very little to cheer. The trip to Villa Park is also a chance for Allardyce to again show just how far the team has come during his tenure.

His first match as Baggies boss was back in December when Dean Smith’s side headed to The Hawthorns.

Following Jake Livermore’s first-half red card, the visitors ran riot that night and secured a comfortable 3-0 win.

And having already beaten Wolves once, Allardyce will want revenge for that defeat and to also grab a victory against Albion’s other main rivals.

To do it, they have will have to essentially forget what happened at Leicester.

The Baggies had looked a well balanced side prior to the trip to the King Power Stadium.

But they weren’t at the races at all against Brendan Rodgers’ side and were outclassed all over the park.

Just how under par they were came as a shock to Allardyce.

And he knows they have to get back to what they were good at before the Leicester game if they are to stand any chance tomorrow. “It’s about my players getting back to the level of performance they have shown for the last 10 matches,” Allardyce said.

“That came about by having one of the best defensive records in the Premier League.

“We have to get that defensive side right but just as importantly we have to get the attacking side right because we know we have to try and win the game.

“It’s a West Midlands derby – everybody will be up for it.

“I’ve certainly got to get my players up for it and get them to bounce back.

“We have to put Leicester behind us and go and win it. But we won’t win it if we don’t defend properly.

“It’s going to be a ferocious football match with two Midlands clubs clashing together.”

Asked if Albion can win five of their last six games, Allardyce added: “It would be great. We have got to give it a try. The odds are getting ever shorter but we have got to go one game at a time, that is all we can do.

“Five wins would get us to 39 points which is normally enough.”