West Bromwich Albion boss Sam Allardyce believes clean sheets hold the key to their relegation prospects.

The Baggies are second from bottom in the Premier League, but have improved in recent weeks.

They put in great shifts against Manchester United and Burnley, and Allardyce may see they are turning a corner.

"The defensive side is getting better and better, we need to keep that nice and tight," Allardyce told reporters.

"If we get eight or nine clean sheets from the next 13 games, we'll have a chance.

"What we have to do is keep applying ourselves as well as we have done and be consistent in our performances and get a little bit better each game.

"Certainly we have to get more clinical in front of goal.

"The sad thing is since I've been here we've only won one when we should have won at least four and the last two.

"Next week becomes an even bigger task to try to go out and win because it's a need to win now basis."