Mowbray: BOTTOM line is our run-in is tough ask

HEAD coach Tony Mowbray admits he would much prefer Albion's final three Championship fixtures to be against teams in the middle of the table rather than at the bottom.

- By DAN NEWBOULD

In a bizarre quirk, the computer has thrown up Derby, Cardiff and Luton as the Baggies' remaining games, three teams who are all fighting for their lives.

In fact, Mowbray believes other sets of fixtures are not tougher, despite play-off rivals Coventry and Middlesbrough facing each other on the final day of the regular season.

Albion's need for victories is more acute than ever following Good Friday's damaging 2-0 defeat to the Sky Blues at the CBS Arena.

Mowbray cut a disappointed figure after his side dropped to eighth in the table and six points off the play-off places, extending their record of not winning away from The Hawthorns since mid-November.