Fulham and Huddersfield, the next visitors to the Amex, already appear doomed to relegation.

In a five-part series this week, we are analysing the five other clubs seeking, like Albion, to avoid that dreaded 18th place in the Premier League.

Starting today with south coast rivals Southampton.

Mark Hughes could be left with a grim conclusion to his managerial career in the Premier League.

He will have helped two well-established red and white clubs succumb to relegation in successive seasons if Southampton go down. Paul Lambert could not save Stoke last season after Hughes was sacked in January.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has the task of avoiding a repeat scenario at St Mary's.

Hughes (below right) cannot be solely blamed. Southampton, like Stoke, have the feel of a club stagnating in the top flight, struggling to adequately replace departed players and satisfy bloated expectations.

The Argus: He kept them up last year, just, after succeeding Mauricio Pellegrino in March.

The 17th-place finish was Southampton's worst in six seasons back in the top flight.

Austrian Hasenhuttl, known to Albion duo Pascal Gross and Bernardo from his periods in charge of Ingolstadt and Red Bull Leipzig, is their fourth manager in 20 months since losing Mauricio Pochettino to Spurs and Ronald Koeman to Everton.

Plenty of Southampton supporters were glad to see the back of Claude Puel after a season in which he steered Saints to eighth and the League Cup final.

They did not like the style of football of the manager Albion confront next now that Puel is in charge of Leicester.

You wonder what those fans are thinking now that Saints find themselves back in the relegation zone.

Hughes lost his job in December after Southampton's struggle last season carried through into this season.

They had only one win and took just nine points from their opening 14 Premier League games under the Welshman.

A change of manager and style, from control to high-pressing intensity, initially had the desired effect in improving results. Arsenal were beaten at St Mary's, Chelsea held at Stamford Bridge.

Saints have gradually regressed again in 2019, apart from a win at Leicester which Albion would love to emulate next week.

Like the Seagulls, their only home victory so far this year came against Everton.

Dropped points against the teams around them have been costly, a draw at home to Crystal Palace, conceding a late equaliser at Burnley, then a late winner for Cardiff at St Mary's.

Overall Southampton have taken 15 points in 11 games under Hasenhuttl, a satisfactory haul which nevertheless has left them back where they started when Hughes was dismissed, in the drop zone and a point from safety.

Hasenhuttl has taken his squad to Tenerife to prepare for a tough spell against three of the top six (Arsenal, Manchester United and Spurs) in their next five matches prior to the international break and a potentially pivotal visit to the Amex immediately afterwards at the end of March.

A lot of attention has been paid to Albion surrendering 2-0 leads at Fulham and West Ham, less on the point they retrieved from 2-0 down at Southampton in September via Shane Duffy and Glenn Murray (below) in the final quarter of the contest.

The Argus: That could yet prove extremely costly to Saints - and very valuable to Albion - unless they can keep fit the injury-prone Danny Ings, who converted a penalty that night and has contributed nine goals in 19 appearances.

Fixtures

Home: Fulham, Spurs, Liverpool, Wolves, Bournemouth, Huddersfield.

Away: Arsenal, Manchester United, Watford, Albion, Newcastle, West Ham.

Form

One win in five all competitions, two in last ten.

The good news

Been here before.

The bad news

New manager bounce has dissipated.

Key Player

Nathan Redmond can be an attacking spark. The winger has scored six goals in his last 11 appearances.

Current position

18th.

Predicted finish

17th.

Part Two Tomorrow, Cardiff.