A bad week off the pitch for West Brom got worse on it as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton at The Hawthorns.
Boardroom upheaval and (alleged) Grand Theft Auto in Spain provided an unwanted distraction ahead of Saturday's fifth round tie, but the FA Cup had provided West Brom with some salvation this season.
Perhaps a siege mentality could conjure up another much-needed win like the one at Exeter at the start of January? Or the only outstanding performance of the campaign at Anfield against Liverpool last month?