West Brom boss Sam Allardyce admits they battling to get their survival plan on track.
Baggies boss Allardyce has won just one of his 11 League games in charge.
The odds are lengthening on Big Sam repeating his successful rescue acts from his Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Everton spells.
Allardyce admits he has so far “failed" to stop Albion's alarming defensive shortcomings.
Asked if he had ever faced a challenge of his magnitude, Allardyce, appointed in December, replied: “Not really.
“As difficult as it looks, I'm still optimistic we can give it a go.
“Hopefully I'll be smiling at the end of the season.
“It is still my hope and desire to be sat here and say: 'wow, how did we do that?'
“I have sat and done a few of them and got up the day after and wondered just how did we get out of trouble?
“We didn't only beat the teams in the bottom eight, we also beat the teams in the top six.
“It is more difficult when you are in this position.
“We have failed miserably in terms of not letting goals in.
“I have failed in that way, people can point the finger at me.
“It is harder now because we have thrown too many points away.
“But I don't think you could loan better for the money we have spent.
“What would I liked to have done? Obviously get them in on the second of January which might have made a difference to the games we lost."
