One of the most depressing Albion games I have seen in recent years was a 3-0 home defeat by Blackpool.

It was a desperately sorry affair at Withdean that sent the Seagulls tamely to within one place of the relegation zone.

They were only 1-0 down at the break but never looked like raising even a whimper of a reply.

I mention that because, in the next game, they went to promotion chasing Scunthorpe.

As they warmed up they heard home fans applaud the Iron on their previous game, a 4-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

And then they served up one of their best results in the last few seasons by winning 2-1.

It was a classic illustration of how things can change.

Of how teams can be at their most dangerous when they are wounded and at their most vulnerable when they are on a high.

Well, guess what. Albion’s display at Walsall on Tuesday was just as bad as that surrender to Blackpool.

Just when you wondered whether they had turned the corner, just when you saw a match coming up against a mid-table side in poor form, fortunes changed around again and Walsall thumped the Seagulls 3-0.

We looked on in disbelief as Walsall carved through inside 20 seconds for their first shot of the match.

You kept thinking it would all get better but it didn’t.

Then, just when it seemed Albion had at least steadied matters at 1-0 down and started to find a foothold in the game, they were caught out in their own half and conceded a second goal out of nothing.

Albion fans of a certain age know about Chris Hutchings’ combative qualities.

He used them to good effect as a tenacious full-back in these parts about 20 years ago.

Russell Slade certainly warned his men ahead of the game that Walsall would come out fighting.

As it turned out, the Seagulls had no answer to them.

Did the manager get it wrong by not bringing back specialist left-back Gary Borrowdale after his quick recovery from injury?

Hindsight says he did. So does the fact he got him on as substitute after 45 minutes.

But before the game how many of us were arguing with his decision to go with the side which thrashed Yeovil?

Not many, I would suggest.

Slade comes across as a very honest, open and amenable talker.

He volunteered the opinion on Monday that Albion probably needed five wins from 11 games.

Make that five from ten.

And now look at the forthcoming fixtures: Scunthorpe, Tranmere and MK Dons, followed by Hereford and a home six-pointer with Swindon.

All five opponents could have a lot to play for, the first three are currently in the top seven.

Football fans can be wary creatures. An acquaintance of mine who supports Scunthorpe has already got Saturday’s game at Glanford Park down as a banker 1-0 away win.

How Albion could do with that.

Traditionally we are coming to the time of year when lowly teams, out of sheer desperation, start pulling off shock wins.

Like Fulham suddenly learning how to win away last spring or West Ham’s 1-0 success at Manchester United the previous season.

Albion really need to come out fighting and upset the odds in one of their next three games.

If not, the survival equation will be tougher than ever.