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Ben Foster: Brighton victory will be key to survival

Goalkeeper Ben Foster believes victory over Brighton tomorrow would help restore belief Albion can beat the drop.

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Ben Foster (AMA)

The Baggies sit four points adrift of safety having failed to win in 20 Premier League games and Foster admitted the rotten run has gotten into player’s heads.

But he said: “Three points on Saturday would get everyone a little bit more optimistic.

“When you’re at the bottom of the league it can get a little negative and pessimistic but a big win on Saturday – it would be a huge win – it just keeps us in contact with the teams above us and it gets the belief back that we can do this.

“I think everybody in the changing rooms believes we can do it and it starts Saturday.”

Albion recorded their first win in any competition since August when they beat League Two Exeter in the FA Cup last weekend.

“If we went on a bit of a run and picked up two or three wins on the bounce you really can turn things on its head,” added Foster.

“If we can get that run it can shoot you up five or six places in the league.

“When you are sitting at the bottom of the league it always feels doom and gloom. It can get into people’s heads. You can’t blame our position on luck.

“But there have been so many games when we have been in good positions. We need to focus on shutting these games out.”

Albion’s fourth round FA Cup trip to Liverpool has been rescheduled for a 7.45pm kick-off on Saturday, January 27 after being selected for live broadcast on BT Sport.

The Baggies, who could request a ticket allocation of 8,300, are expected to confirm details in due course.

Teenage full-back Kane Wilson has meanwhile returned on loan to Exeter for the rest of the season.