Baggies boss Tony Mowbray insists his players haven't given up the fight for survival despite their under-par performance against Fulham. Albion travel to Goodison Park on Saturday (KO 12.45pm) on the back of a demoralising 2-0 defeat against the Cottagers with the Baggies boss insisting spirits are still high in the camp.
With Albion boasting one of the worst away records and Fulham high on confidence and form, Mowbray believes it was simply a bad day at the office for his troops on Sunday. And with just 12 games left Mowbray believes Premier League safety is still attainable as he prepares to face David Moyes's Everton.
"I genuinely don't think any heads dropped on Sunday," Mowbray stated.
"We played against decent opposition and made a fist of things.
"While they hit the woodwork four times, their efforts were generally long-range shots.
"We're not a team of physical footballers.
"We don't base our game on power and strength.
"We base it on something else.
"It's easy to pick holes in something if you don't get the right result.
"If we'd have stayed at 0-0, the game had gone on and we'd nicked a goal, everyone would have been saying 'what a great result' and that we showed great character.
"The team are trying hard and sometimes you have to accept that you come up against a good, organised side.
"Fulham have beaten Arsenal at home, beaten other good sides, and won eight out of 12 at home.
"It's disappointing because they aren't Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United - they're Fulham - but you have to respect that and move onto the next game."
Albion still look to be without influential pair Jonathan Greening and Jonas Olsson for the trip to the north-west with Mowbray admitting his side lack the leadership of the Baggies' skipper and physical presence of defender Olsson.
"Jonathan and Jonas are big personalities in the team," he added.
"They are two of the bigger voices in the side but, while they have been a loss to us, let's keep going.
"Hopefully we'll get them back pretty soon but, if it is another two games without them, we've got to make the most of it and look for people to step in and do that job.
"Yet, personalities are what they are.
"You'd like a whole team of leaders.
"Any manager wants natural leaders all over the pitch.
"But not everyone is a natural leader.
"Ultimately, results can dictate how you're feeling and how you are, who's driven and who's not.
"It's like everything in life, any sort of adversity and you either roll over and let it overcome you or you stick your chest out, enjoy the challenge, face it head on and try and do something about it.
"You hope you've got enough of those players in your team to carry you on."