West Bromwich Albion vs. Brighton and Hove Albion – EPL, February 27, 2021

This is a huge game at the bottom of the table on Saturday, as West Brom looks to inflict a defeat on one of the clubs that it might hope will take its place in the bottom three before the end of the season.

Brighton will still be smarting after conceding a stoppage-time goal to lose its derby game against Crystal Palace on Monday. An instant reaction will be required.

West Brom has not played well this season, but I am a little surprised that BetOnline has decided to make Brighton the odds-on favorite for this one. The Seagulls have hardly been world-beaters themselves, and that makes the draw, or even the home win price quite attractive.

Sam Allardyce is looking towards Ainsley Maitland-Niles to keep West Brom up this season – and is giving the Arsenal loanee every chance to prove himself in his much-preferred central midfield role. He has been unable to inspire the required victories so far, but there have been some good draws.

He will probably not be enough to ensure survival, but there might be more of a belief in the squad now. The goalless draw away at Burnley was as uninspiring as it was devoid of action, but the Baggies have only gone two games unbeaten once before this season – and that has to be regarded as an improvement.

Whether West Brom might actually make it three games without losing will largely be down to how Graham Potter picks up his players after the crushing blow of Christian Benteke’s stoppage-time winner for Palace on Monday. Brighton was all over its rivals during the game but was ultimately unable to make that domination pay.

But that was the first defeat in the league for seven games, in a sequence of fixtures that brought victories against Leeds, Spurs, and Liverpool. If Brighton could score more goals, it might even be able to pull away from the relegation zone. But another defeat on Saturday – to a drop zone rival – would pull it right back into danger.

West Brom’s players should really be up for this one, considering it is one of the best chances of picking up some points in the last few weeks. This is really the kind of game that the Baggies need to win. I don’t think it will end up earning all three points on Saturday, but it might have just enough to disappoint Brighton once again.