Mowbray banking on home run

Tony Mowbray is hoping Albion's run of successive home games in the coming weeks will push the Baggies back into contention for automatic promotion. Just one point from the last two games has seen Albion slip down to fourth with Mowbray looking aiming to use five home games in the next seven - depending on the rearranged Wolves fixture - as a platform for a sustained winning run.

The Hawthorns has been a happy hunting ground this term for Mowbray's men losing just once back in December to Coventry City, with the Albion chief looking continue a similar run starting with the visit of Hull City on Saturday (KO 3pm) before hitting the road.

"It would be nice to be in one of the top two places going into the tough away games so we can look to not lose them rather than have to go and nick them to win," Mowbray said.

"I think I'd rather have it in the order we're going to have to do it than play a lot of tough away games and then have the potential pressure and nervousness at home of having to win football matches.

"We had that last year when it became nervous at home and the players became over-anxious.

"You don't necessarily get that away because you set up to be solid and hard to play against and let the opposition, as the home side, do the worrying about trying to win the game.

"It might work in our favour."