West Bromwich Albion manager Pepe Mel has admitted that he faces the biggest game of his reign against West Ham United this weekend after defeat to Manchester City left the Baggies still fighting for their Premier League lives.
A trio of Argentines scored for the Citizens as they inflicted a 3-1 loss on Albion at Eastlands on Monday to leave Mel's side only three points above safety.
Their survival campaign continues when the 12th-placed Hammers visit The Hawthorns on Saturday in what is arguably West Brom's most winnable of their four remaining matches, and the Spaniard feels that there is enough at stake to describe the match as "like a cup final".
"The next game really is like a cup final, our whole season is on one game with West Ham," he told Sky Sports News.
"It's the most important game since I became head coach. I hope stadium is full of our fans to help us"
Mel, who was appointed as Albion boss on January 9, also has to take his team to Arsenal and relegation rivals Sunderland before Stoke City travel across the Midlands on the final day of the campaign.
Joe Fish
