Birmingham v West Brom: More Eric Ramsay headaches as Albion cannot afford another Portsmouth style drop off

What they didn't do the first time round is back it up and show any sort of momentum. This time, they have to as they head to Birmingham City on Tuesday for a West Midlands derby.

A lack of momentum and stringing results together has been an Achilles heel of Albion all season - a problem which pre-dates Ramsay's arrival.

But they badly need some now, especially as the fight for relegation and the picture is ever moving as teams pick up results in the scrap to finish above the dreaded 'R' line.

On Saturday Albion did show something, and outlined that they can perform not just under pressure but they can look like a half decent side.

In the first few games under Ramsay, that has not been on display.

But a switch to a back four has ironically been the catalyst for Albion looking a bit more tight. They barely gave Stoke a sniff on Saturday.

It comes after Ramsay came in and tried to implement a back five which never really worked from the off.

But Albion look settled in a back four and he will no doubt go for it again at St Andrews. Even if he didn't want to, he will have to, owing to the lack of options at the back, an issue which keeps getting worse.

Albion were already without George Campbell (hamstring) and Krystian Bielik (shoulder), before Chris Mepham pulled up with a hamstring problem on Saturday.

Ramsay knows the injury conundrum he faces, but is looking at the task in hand rather than the issue.

He said: "We've got to certainly carry the same level of resilience from a defensive perspective.

"We have to be able to use the ball well when we have our chance to do so.

"I'm sure it'll be a case of having to show some humility in terms of how we defend and the level of aggression, discipline and compactness that we'll need because they're a good team.

"They are in good form, have good players, strengthened a lot in the window, and are obviously in a decent spot at the table.

"So it'll be a tough game. But we've got to make sure that we use this as a platform and really connect with the environment there."

Ramsay is probably left with two options. Play Charlie Taylor at centre back, as has been the case this season. However, he is someone who has struggled for form ever since he arrived in the summer.

The other option he has is to use Alfie Gilchrist in the middle with Nat Phillips. Gilchrist has come in as a right back but has struggled so far, and some of that could be down to the fact he came through the Chelsea ranks as a central defender.

Whatever he goes with, it is another problem Ramsay needs to find a solution for.