Comment: Positive feeling at West Brom despite the perilous position

A couple of morale-boosting FA Cup victories in January means it three wins and a draw from the last five games in all competitions, and the only defeat on that run has been at the Etihad Stadium where pretty much everybody gets beaten.

At home, the Baggies have only lost one of their six games since Tony Pulis was sacked, and that was a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United which they deserved to get something from.

It’s a results-based business, as well all know, and there are tentative signs that losses are turning into draws and draw are starting to turn into wins.

But arguably just as important for Albion fans has been the intent shown under Alan Pardew, both on and off the pitch.

Not only has the new head coach got the team playing on the front foot, and taking games to teams with a two-man strike force, he’s also been ambitious in the transfer market.

Daniel Sturridge should not be expected to single-handedly save the Baggies from relegation this season, but even in his 15-minute cameo at the Etihad, there were signs that he has the predatory instinct that will bring about goals.

He was getting in the right positions, but lacked the sharpness that will return with minutes.

“He is not here to save us, he is here to add to our pool of players,” said Pardew this week. “And he is not Cup-tied.

“We are in two competitions, one we have a chance of winning, one we have to try to survive. That is our agenda.”

Premier League survival may be crucial to the owner and the bank balance, but an FA Cup run in the 50th anniversary year of the 1968 triumph means just as much to the fans, if not more.

Ever since he arrived at the club, Pardew has said all the right things. It’s why he’s endeared himself to supporters even though the team find themselves bottom as we enter February.

That is hardly his fault, as teams around like Swansea have picked up form dramatically, and he has made noticeable improvements to the side.

After scoring three goals from open play at Anfield, there is renewed confidence in this team’s ability to attack.

Jay Rodriguez has five goals in his last seven games, and will hopefully rival Sturridge in the scoring charts during the final third of the season.

No longer will defenders be expected to bail the team out with headers from set-pieces, there are signs that their goals will be a helpful bonus rather than a necessity, as it should be.

Gareth Barry and Grzegorz Krychowiak are playing like two Rolls Royce’s in central midfield, Salomon Rondon looks rejuvenated, Albion have kept Jonny Evans until the end of the season at least, and the Baggies still have Nacer Chadli and James Morrison to return in a few weeks.

The positivity surrounding the team and the fanbase is unbefitting of a team bottom of the table, but it gives hope to the notion that this group will be able to pull themselves clear.

Just four points separate the bottom seven and there are plenty of clubs in that mix on much worse form than Albion. But the Baggies need to capitalise on others falling like a stone.

Today’s match against struggling Southampton won’t define the season on its own, but it is part of a series of home games that will.

Albion dealt with the pressure admirably last time at The Hawthorns, beating Brighton comfortably. But they need to do it on a regular basis, starting now.