19-01-2017, 20:28
![[Image: Odemwingie.png]](http://s7.postimg.org/f73as8lu3/Odemwingie.png)
Newly-promoted Albion get their first three points on the board courtesy of Odemwingie's debut goal against Sunderland, 21st August 2010
It's been an unhappy couple of weeks in Albionland, with an FA Cup exit swiftly followed by an awful afternoon at White Hart Lane to dent whatever hopes we may have had for 2017. However, all being well, we have a chance to get ourselves back on track this Saturday with a home fixture against Sunderland, who spend so much time having their name prefixed by the word "struggling" that it might as well be added to the club badge.
Of course, anyone entertaining the notion that this is therefore a pushover would do well to remember that a) it's Albion, b) it's Albion, and c) it is West Bromwich Albion. Things tend to look very comfortable from the heights of 8th place, in stark contrast to the way they look from the depths of 19th, and though the Black Cats remain winless since Christmas and have failed to pick up a single point on the road since Bonfire Night, it's exactly this kind of match - far more so than the dogfight six-pointers - which they know from experience will give them the chance of a surprise win and allow them to pull off their annual escape.
Though we've been reminded recently that our attack can still be a bit one-dimensional and our defence is often fragile when left exposed, hopefully Rondon will get enough chances on Saturday to make his mark and Anichebe will be obliged to call it a day after a stray butterfly lands on him. Three points would keep some hope for the season alive, so let's see what we can get.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
