The stakes for staying in the Premier League are becoming higher and more clubs are reaching for the panic button far more quickly than in previous seasons. West Brom and Fulham epitomise the lack of patience exacerbated by the desire to stay in the top flight.
I was at Craven Cottage back in September to see them draw 1-1. Having led West Brom to an eighth-place finish last season, Steve Clarke losing his job was a highly unlikely scenario, as was Martin Jol being the first of three Fulham managers this season.
The Fulham script has been a remarkable one. To replace Martin Jol with his assistant and then allow Rene Meulensteen to bring in seven new faces last month and yet end his tenure after just 75 days shows the desperation but also perhaps a lack of courage at board level.
So the Premier League now prepares to welcome its first German manager. Felix Magath says he's faced worse situations in his career but that was in the Bundesliga, where his knowledge was impeccable having been in charge of eight different clubs.
Now he has to learn quickly about the English league and his new players with only 12 matches to pull off Fulham's escape.
His need to hit the ground running is emphasised by the fact that he has to face Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton in his first six matches and must lift a team that has lost 14 of their last 18 league games.
His opposite number is still searching for his first victory in charge of West Brom. Pepe Mel has impressed some with three comebacks at home to gain a draw each time, but he needs to start winning.
Whatever the outcome, this will be another huge result in the survival battle at the bottom and you cannot underestimate the impact of three points for either club.
Head-to-head
-
Fulham have not lost any of their last six Premier League games against West Brom (W3, D3).
West Brom
-
Pepe Mel has failed to win any of his five Premier League games as head coach of West Brom. He has drawn three matches and lost two.
-
Albion have only won one of their last 17 matches in all competitions. That win came against Newcastle at the Hawthorns on New Year's Day.
-
West Brom have drawn 12 of their 26 league games this season - at least three more than any other side in the division.
-
Sixteen players have scored for the Baggies in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.
Fulham
-
New Fulham boss Felix Magath is the first German to take charge of a Premier League game.
-
Fulham have taken one point from their last six league matches - in a 2-2 draw at Manchester United.
-
The Cottagers have conceded 58 goals in their 26 Premier League matches - an average of more than two a game and 14 more than the next worst side.
-
They have already used a league-high 34 players in the league this season. That is five more than they did in the whole of 2012-13.