Lewis Cox's West Brom analysis: Crunch time as nerves heighten - but Albion must focus on themselves

James Morrison’s catchphrase of the last few weeks in this relegation dogfight has been “another one ticked off”.

Friday night’s goalless draw against high-flying Millwall at The Hawthorns - a second successive 0-0 and third draw on the spin in this seven-match unbeaten run - felt positive.

It was not the three points to get the job all-but done and dusted. But the way Morrison’s men powered on stronger in the second half and latter stages gave heart.

Twenty-four hours later and the cushion to the Championship relegation places was cut from five points to two as two of the three rivals beneath the Baggies picked up victories.

Saturday was a scarcely-needed reminder that, despite the resurgent and desperately-needed form under Morrison, there are still chapters to be written in this overall ghastly tale.

Oxford, who like Albion have drawn a number of games of late, claimed a 2-0 home win over Watford. The Baggies will hope to do likewise on Tuesday week at The Hawthorns against the Hornets.

Portsmouth have appeared out of sorts for weeks but rallied to claim a remarkable 97th-minute winner at Middlesbrough after battening down the hatches.

Pompey’s game in hand is a real challenge at home to Ipswich on Tuesday before a humdinger against Leicester next weekend. The Foxes continue to implode after Saturday’s shock home defeat to Swansea.

The tame Foxes seem doomed and have serious ground physically and mentally to make up.

Oxford and Portsmouth have testing fixtures ahead and that offers a little comfort for concerned Albion fans, but at this stage any clash can throw up an unexpected storyline.

In truth, no fixture list other than their own truly matters because the Baggies’ destiny remains mercifully in their own hands.

Morrison’s men are on a good run of form and confidence should be in a reasonable place. Momentum is decent.

The mere thought of being seven games unbeaten five or six weeks ago would be improbable. Indeed this is Albion’s best run of form since Carlos Corberan was in charge a long time ago. Morrison has the troops hard to beat.

Sure, it would have been ideal to pick up another couple of victories amid a run that has brought five draws from seven unbeaten.

But those fixtures, Blackburn on Easter Monday aside, have been challenging and to not lose any of them is a credit to all involved. There is little room for revisionism on those results - it is no easy thing to take points from Southampton, Wrexham and Millwall, especially for a struggling side.

Albion have their second-tier status in their own hands but they desperately need to deliver the telling final blow in this dogfight.

Rivals have shown they are still capable of picking up wins at the crunch - and the Baggies must do likewise.

With just four games left the next two are against mid-table outfits. The theory is that type of opposition is viewed as most handy in this scenario. With little on the line and nothing to play for.

Preston, next weekend’s hosts, are 13th but are in decent nick four games unbeaten. Watford, a place higher in 12th, are four winless. The Hornets make the trip to the Black Country next midweek.

A minimum of four points from those two fixtures absolutely must be the aim. Doing so would surely all-but secure survival.

Anything less and leaving things until Ipswich at The Hawthorns prior to the final day at Sheffield Wednesday could be perilous.

Friday night’s entertaining stalemate against Millwall could have gone either way. The Lions looked lively in the first period but Morrison’s threadbare side recovered and showed a strong second wind late on.

As with recent Wrexham and Blackburn clashes a key chance, this time through Jayson Molumby, came around and was not taken.

That will have to change in the two games ahead but there should be enough wind in Albion sails and belief among the supporters that the finish line can be reached.

The Championship table makes for more uncomfortable reading than it did 24 or 48 hours earlier, but the sides below would still swap with Albion, whose fate is in their own hands.

Morrison’s men are seven games unbeaten and the goal is tantalisingly within their grasp.

The nerves are natural and real, just ask the head coach who is going through the wringer. It is a time for cool heads and sharp focus to get the job done.