We need three points. Simple as that. Otherwise we get drawn into the melee of the mid-table club. The worst we can do tomorrow is drop one place and be overtaken by Tottenham, but that’s quite bad enough. For the second time in 5 days I am driving down from Norfolk and don’t want to drive back again having seen us lose. Quite frankly, we should never have lost the Arsenal game. It was a very good performance in so many ways, and highly encouraging. But boy did we miss Carl Jenkinson at right back. Alex was a bit off song too. Maybe it was the disallowed goal that put him in a bit of a mood. Adrian was fantastic and it was good to see Downing back in his ideal position. I thought Andy Carroll had a very good game, but I do wonder whether it isn’t time to rotate a little and start with Sakho and Valencia again. After all, it was they who put us where we are now.
West Brom players will be looking to impress Tony Pulis and they have some very good players who we’d do well not to underestimate. But I really do think we have the beating of them.
The team I have selected above is the one I would put out, but I suspect Amalfitano will retain his place, and deservedly so. He was our one bright light at the end of the Chelsea game and he did well against Arsenal. But if he plays, it means Noble doesn’t. I suppose it is good to have these problems. But let’s remember that this will be the last league game for Sakho and Kouyate before they depart for the African Cup of Nations, so it would be madness not to play them both.
I’m bringing my LBC producer, Jagruti, to the game tomorrow. She’s never been to a match before, so I am in full indoctrination mode!
COYI.
Remember you have until 1.30pm to enter the Prediction League.