Leicester City v West Brom: Albion need to keep that winning feeling

But Sam Allardyce concedes that record is going to have to stay intact if Albion are to have any chance of avoiding relegation this season.

The Baggies have been playing well now for 10 games and have been sensational in their last two.

Those performances led to thumping victories over Chelsea and Southampton.

The problem is that Newcastle have also enjoyed an upturn in form – with Steve Bruce’s side having taken seven points from a possible nine.

That means – despite back-to-back victories – Albion are nine points from safety with just seven games remaining.

Sean Dyche’s Burnley are now the team they are trying to reel in.

But with time running out, Allardyce believes Albion are in a position where they can only afford one more defeat – while the majority of their remaining seven matches have to end in wins.

“We need to make it three from wins three just to try to stay in touch,” the Dudley-born boss said.

“We’re reliant on nearly winning every game left.

“But in the position we are in we are also reliant on others above us losing games.

“All we can do is look after ourselves.

“It would be a great achievement from where we have come from to win three games on the trot.

“Leicester are in a great frame of mind after getting to the FA Cup final last weekend and sitting in the Champions League places.

“Let’s concentrate on our game, on the way we’ve played recently and hope the players can come out with a victory.”

Brendan Rodgers has tended to line-up his Foxes in a 3-4-1-2 formation in recent weeks.

It’s a system that sees the in-form Kelechi Iheanacho partner Jamie Vardy up front, with either Ayoze Perez or James Maddison in the number 10 role.

Having scored eight goals in their last two games, Allardyce is confident his side will cause Leicester problems going forward.

But he says the strength of their attack means defending well is the key to getting a result.

“Not many teams play two on the front line now so we have to be aware of that whilst still creating the chances we created against Southampton and Chelsea,” the 66-year-old said.

“We do have to be very careful and make sure we don’t switch off.

“It’s taken Iheanacho quite a while to realise the potential we saw in his Man City days.

“All managers are desperate for consistency’s from their players – which Jamie Vardy has had for many, many, years.

“To be performing at this level at his age and to still have the desire, quality, and pace he has got – they are a very potent partnership.

“Iheanacho has got one of the best goalscoring records in the league at the moment and Jamie Vardy can create a chance for himself out of absolutely nothing.

“So we need to deliver in that area, I think that is the key area.

“I think we can cause Leicester problems.

“But we will have to be very good at trying to keep those two boys quiet and Maddison, too, if he players in the hole.”

Albion enter tonight’s game fresh having not played for 10 days.

Leicester, meanwhile, will be full of confidence, having secured a place in the FA Cup final by beating Southampton last weekend.

The Baggies enjoyed an extended break before their fantastic win at Chelsea.

And Allardyce hopes the extra time to prepare has the same impact tonight, while also revealing Robert Snodgrass and Kieran Gibbs will be the only players missing through injury.

“I hope this break has given the lads the energy to continue where they left off against Southampton,” he added.

“We’re in good shape. The staff here have kept the squad fully fit.

“It’s just Robert Snodgrass and Kieran Gibbs who have slight injuries, not too bad, but they won’t be involved in the squad tonight.”