Ten points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Premier League, seven consecutive defeats, just one win in the league since August - you would have thought there was little else to affirm the belief that West Brom are destined for relegation this season.
Then, along comes Jonny Evans to admit that players openly wept in the West Brom dressing room following Saturday's game against Bournemouth.
It was a tough defeat for West Brom. After taking an early second half lead through Jay Rodriguez, they conceded twice in the last 13 minutes, losing the game 2-1.
Tears might indicate they are players who really care about the club. More obviously, it suggests they know their fate is sealed.
"There were a few tears after the game at the weekend because going into that game there was a lot of hope and optimism that we would get something from it and try to turn the season around even at this late stage. We were upset," Evans is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"We were ahead and then the game swung in the last 15 minutes and I think it has been the story of our season. It's hard to take sometimes."
As he grasps for a lifeline in West Brom's scramble for survival, Evans believes there is still hope. Though, it is the least bright of all hopes: mathematical hope.
"Mathematically, though, we still have hope and we keep going until it is mathematically not possible. We owe that to ourselves and the fans to do that. That's what we will continue to do that."
