Life is tough at the bottom end of the English Premier League. Column inches in print media and air time on television channels is hard to come by... unless of course the two teams are involved in what, even at this stage in the season, promises to be a relegation six-pointer.
Both Wolves and West Brom are in terrible shape. As we approach the business end of the season, they are short of the magical safety mark of 40 points by at least 15 each... and with only 14 games to go (including games against the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea) for each team, games against fellow relegation and bottom-of-the-table contenders are rapidly becoming must-win clashes.
Wolves come into this game on the back of a heavy defeat against Liverpool and dropped points against QPR and Aston Villa, both of which they really should have won. In addition, the fact that they have only kept two clean sheets all season long - in the second and third games of the season - makes for pathetic reading. Fortunately for them though, scoring doesn't seem to be an issue. Stephen Fletcher leads the way with 9 strikes and Wolves have scored at least one goal in every game since the 2-0 defeat to (surprise!) West Brom. This doesn't include the 3-0 defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool and is a run of 16 games.
West Brom are in similar straits. They've won only once in their last 7 games. They won two on the trot before that though... with 2-1 and 3-2 wins over Blackburn and Newcastle, respectively, and the seven-game run includes a hugely creditable goalless draw against Manchester City. Nevertheless, they ought to be concerned with the fact that they are not hitting the back of the net regularly. The club's leading goal scorer, Shane Long, hasn't scored from open play since the 1-1 draw away to QPR, in early December, and the side have only managed 11 goals in the 10 games since then. The Baggies will be desperate to pick up maximum points from this game... their three next games are against a Sunderland side enjoying themselves in the heady heights of the top ten and big boys Chelsea and Manchester United.
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