Albion may have been nestled at the bottom of the league since mid-November, but it took 37 rounds for the relentless Baggies to concede relegation to the Championship. Although Mowbray’s men were always labeled as victims for the drop, rather then candidates for survival, a late rally of positive results was a reminder that a comeback was never too far from Albions reach. However, their lack of quality and inability to convert scoring opportunities ultimately decided that they weren’t prepared for another season in England’s top flight.

With the Baggies almost certainly bound for the Coca-Cola Championship next season, many fans have already begun questioning their future in the second division including their capability of bouncing back to the top flight. Knowledgeable supporters of recurrently promoted and relegated teams will often say that it is in fact more difficult to secure birth in the Premier League than it is to survive for a single season in one of Europe’s most dominant leagues. Just this season, we’ve seen Birmingham City promoted back to the Premiership a year after their relegation, but conversely have also witnessed the relegation of Norwich City, Southampton and Charlton Athletic, all of which participated in the Premier League just four years ago; Charlton just two years ago. So what will the Baggies have to do to assure promotion to Premier League next season?

"I think they understand it becomes more difficult but they have got to keep applying themselves. I only asked them to play in the way we set the team up to play and keep going. I enjoy watching my team play." Said Tony Mowbray following the Baggies 1:1 draw against Bolton on Sunday.

Like Mowbray, Albion fans may enjoy watching their team play, but they certainly aren't relishing the Baggies current eight-game winless streak. Which begs the question: would you rather be entertained with an attractive brand of football or win matches at the price of witnessing a more defensive and less entertaining style of play? In Albion's case, it may be regarded as the difference between survival and relegation.

The prospect of relegation undeniably seems like the most likley route for Albion come the end of the season. Months ago I wrote off the Baggies, suggesting that they utterly lacked the sufficeint quality to compete in the Premier League and that the only possibility of survival would be in the form of something identical to that of the Great Escape during the 2004-05 season.