If Albion are to emulate Newcastle's top ten finish last season, they will have to improve their away record.

They stayed up with a degree of comfort despite the lowest tally of away points (11).

One point has been added to the total so far this season, at Southampton, as they head to St James' Park today.

The away start has been tough, Watford, Liverpool and Manchester City the other opponents.

The visit to Newcastle launches a sequence of away fixtures offering an opportunity to cure the travel sickness.

Albion also go to Everton and Cardiff prior to the next international break.

After that the year ends at Huddersfield, Burnley and Bournemouth, then 2019 begins at West Ham.

They do not enter the backyard of one of the top six again until the mid-January trip to Manchester United.

Threequarters of the 48 points Albion have accumulated in the Premier League have come at the Amex.

It has been Albion's fortress since promotion, St James' Park less so for Newcastle.

They are pointless at home so far this season, although three of those games have been against Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Twenty-eight of their 46 Premier League points since promotion have been collected in front of their own fans, 18 away.

That is eight points fewer than Albion at home, six more away.