Whether watching a game live or on television even the most mind-numbing performance occasionally manages a leave a fan believing their team will cause a ripple of anticipation by exerting pressure on the opposition. Not so. Albion’s continuing run of results carried on without a hint of aggression – so much so that Palace keeper, Wayne Hennessey, must have felt guilty pocketing his win bonus bearing in mind he’d enjoyed a relaxing, nothing to worry about, afternoon off.

Tony Pulis is coming in for mounting criticism and Albion supporters recognise that his first priority is not to lose a game. Stop the opposition scoring and hopefully snatch a goal on the break. Fine when and if it works but at present it’s proving counter productive. In his defence, pardon the pun, I can relate to this philosophy but it was way over the top at Palace seeing that for the entire ninety plus minutes he deployed every play in a defensive role.

Barely a hint of creativity (nothing new there), sitting back encouraging Palace to attack at will and with Chris Brunt being tied in knots by the pace and skill of Zaha it was commendable that they somehow managed to prevent Palace comfortably running out more than 2-0 winners. Media reports were unanimous “Awful…desperate…agonising” and summed up by expressing opinions that “On this form West Brom are in trouble and in serious danger of struggling to avoid relegation.”

No Greed League game this week due to the international break, but on its return the next two games against Sunderland at home and Norwich away give the opportunity to pick up points. If not, then with games against Leicester, Manchester United, Arsenal, West Ham, Spurs and Liverpool lying in wait the prospect of seriously worrying about the drop cannot be discounted.