West Bromwich Albion manager Bryan Robson has warned Fulham and Portsmouth that they are embroiled in a six-way battle for survival at the foot of the Premiership.

Prior to last weekend's fixtures, it appeared that the three relegated sides this season would definitely come from either Albion, Norwich City, Southampton or Crystal Palace.

But the Baggies' 2-0 win over Birmingham City - which lifted them off the bottom of the table - coupled with Saints' victory over Tottenham and Palace's point at home to Manchester United has significantly changed the complexion of the relegation shake- up according to Robson.

The Albion manager, whose charges have lost only twice in their last nine league games, believes Fulham and Pompey must also now be in danger of losing their Premiership status.

Robson said: "I think some of the teams above Palace will be concerned. Portsmouth have taken only four points from a possible 30.

"When you are the manager of a club like that and you go into freefall it is very difficult to turn it around.

"I would think those teams would still be looking over their shoulders. We are picking up points and teams like Fulham and Portsmouth haven't been.

"They might have a little bit of a comfort zone over us but Palace and Southampton are within a couple of wins of actually overhauling them.

"What we need, though, is back-to-back wins, if we can put that in somewhere within the next few games then we are going to put enormous pressure on all those teams around there."

Written off as virtual certainties for relegation last month, following their defeat at Norwich, Albion's impressive victory over Blues has given Robson's men renewed hope that they might yet pull off a remarkable escape.

Even though the match in hand Albion have over their rivals is away to league leaders Chelsea next Tuesday the enthusiasm at the club's training ground is evident.

Robson added: "It is a nice feeling to move off the bottom where we have been since last November but we know we have still got a fight on our hands.

"If the lads can keep performing like they have been, that's going to give us a fighting chance.

"We have some tough fixtures coming up but there is that confidence and a bit of belief among the lads."

Albion have been playing well for a number of weeks without much reward but everything clicked for the team against Blues.

The visitors had only one decent effort on goal all game as Albion dominated and they could have won more emphatically.

It was the second successive clean sheet Albion have kept and Robson says the display must be a benchmark for his players' efforts in the future.

He said: "They showed a fight, desire and hunger to win. We also showed great concentration at the back and good fighting qualities so I want to see more of that."

Robson deployed Geoff Horsfield and Kevin Campbell to good effect in attack against Blues, opting to leave Kanu and Rob Earnshaw on the bench.

And Robson says he will continue to vary his striking options depending on the opposition and their weaknesses.

Albion dismissed newspaper reports quoting Earnshaw's agent Mel Eves saying the 23-year-old Welsh international - who has scored ten goals for Albion since his £3 million move from Cardiff in August - may leave in the summer.

Robson said: "Earnie knows no-one has a divine right to be in the team. When he gets his chance again, which he will do, he has to be nice and sharp and bright.

"I think there has been an improvement in Earnshaw's overall play. When I came here I just thought he is only interested in scoring and his overall contribution to the team wasn't good enough, but I think he has worked on that.

"He is still learning his trade and learning about the Premiership but he has done all right and his goals-to-games ratio is excellent."