West Bromwich Albion

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We asked you what you thought of James Morrison's permanent appointment at West Bromwich Albion and most of you seem pleased as punch.

Here is a selection of what you had to say:

Southern Baggie: Even if it doesn't work out, he has earned the right to fail. He is ultimately the reason we are not in League One. Thank you, Mozza.

As the core of the team that he has built around won't change, this gives us a bit of hope that we can create a real togetherness around the squad. Every successful team in the league has that core identity, and Morrison can take us on.

Work to do, but settling the head coach early was a good move, giving us more time in a shorter window (World Cup).

Nathan: I think it was only right that James got given the managerial position on a permanent basis. Although I have some reservations as he is another rookie and it's one thing to galvanise a team in a relegation battle to then lead the team for the full season. I hope it works out for him but we will have to recruit well in the summer.

Drew: Mozza was the only logical choice - if the last 10 games were any sort of 'working interview' he passed with flying colours!

He really 'gets' the club and the way he galvanised the players, other staff and fans in that short time has been unbelievable.

My only worry is him failing and being pushed out but:

a) I can't see him failing in the short term.

b) His old coaching job would hopefully be made available if a change were needed.

Steve: Well deserved, he's displayed good man management skills alongside tactical nous and a pragmatic approach.

He'll know next season will be as challenging as the this season has.

Paul: Great player for Albion but had hoped for a more experienced appointment such as Slaven Bilic.

Andy: Excellent appointment, the man knows the club and players through and through. I've heard references to calls to Pulis, Hodgson and Clarke as past managers who have helped him. Don't know how much of that is true, but it would be a strong indicator of what they think of him if true. Season ticket renewed and looking forward to better times post PSR nonsense.

Andy: Undoubtedly deserves it, and he fits the Albion recruitment model (below 40) but has the added benefit of knowing the club, players and is tactically astute. An obvious leader who got the players onside and firing on all cylinders. All with a very thin squad.

Rob: No disrespect to Morrison but Gill was the catalyst to Albion's improvement, keeping him is equally important.

Graham: Absolutely delighted to see Mozza appointed as permanent manager. He was brave to call out players after Oxford loss but that showed he has a good relationship with them. Calm when the heat was on. Dealt superbly with points loss and being in relegation zone. Top half next season.

Image source, Getty Images

James Morrison has been appointed as West Bromwich Albion's permanent head coach after twice taking on the role on an interim basis this season.

The 39-year-old former Baggies midfielder was also in caretaker charge after Tony Mowbray was sacked last season but this will be his first full-time managerial role.

Morrison is unbeaten in his past 10 games as West Brom boss since losing against Oxford after replacing Eric Ramsay in late February.

• Albion fans, are you happy with Morrison's appointment?

• Does he deserve it?

• What are your expectations for the 2026-27 campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here and we will publish some of your responses later on.

Both of these sides will be pleased to see the end of this season.

Sheffield Wednesday's off-field and ownership issues have led to a wretched campaign on the pitch and a failure to beat West Brom on Saturday (12:30 BST) will make them the first team in the top four tiers of English football to go a whole season without winning a home game.

West Brom secured their Championship status for a second time with a draw against Ipswich last weekend, having been deducted two points.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won both of their past two Championship home games against West Brom, winning 3-0 in 2023-24 and 3-2 last season.

• West Brom have only lost two of their past 13 league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W7 D4), with this season's reverse clash ending goalless in November.

• Sheffield Wednesday have not lost their final league game in any of the past five seasons (W3 D2), last enjoying a longer run from 1947-48 to 1957-58 (11 in a row).

• West Brom have won their final league game in both of the past two seasons, last doing so three times in a row from 1991-92 to 1993-94.

• Should Sheffield Wednesday fail to win this game, they would be the first side in England's top four tiers to end the season with one league win since Derby County in 2007-08 in the Premier League. In a 46-game season, the fewest wins is two by Rochdale in 1973-74 in the third tier.

Chris Hall
Fan writer

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To paraphrase Harold Wilson, a week is a long time in football.

It certainly proved that way for West Bromwich Albion last week.

Off the back of a huge away win at Preston North End, Albion went into the week knowing that a win at home to a beleaguered Watford, coupled with anything less than that for Oxford against Wrexham, would make them mathematically safe.

Both of those things came to pass as the Baggies ran out emphatic winners against the Hornets, while the U's fell to defeat.

We were allowed just 72 hours to bask in the glow of Championship survival before it was ripped away from us.

At 5pm on Friday, the EFL announced that they would be deducting Albion two points because of alleged financial breaches - which the club continue to claim they are innocent of.

Gallingly, no clarification was offered as to why Albion were found guilty or even how much the club were supposed to be in breach by, as the EFL neglected to provide the written reasons for the sanction.

A strong club statement highlighted the ridiculous nature of the decision, pointing out that the reason they were perceived to be over the limit was that the EFL were counting charitable donations as losses because of a rule change which had occurred after Albion had made the donations. The losses had then been applied to Albion's profit and sustainability calculation retrospectively.

The absurdity of the situation was not lost on respected figures around the football world, such as Kieran Maguire, Henry Winter and others, who were quick to point out how ridiculous the sanction, process, timing and lack of transparency appeared.

But, while social media feeds were awash with strong opinions on the potentially season-defining deduction, everyone inside the club focused on the final, powerful line of the club's statement.

"For now, we will settle this on the pitch."

It was a stance very much in line with the way James Morrison had approached the initial rumours of the charge a week earlier.

The interim boss knew he would face questions on the subject ahead of Albion's clash at Deepdale, but he very politely informed journalists that he had little to say on the matter, that he was only focusing on things within his control.

He also informed the media that his players would not be discussing the matter either, as he had taken the step of banning all talk of the story in the dressing room.

I doubt James Morrison sees himself as a master psychologist, but what is clear is that he understands players and fans, and he knows how to unify a club.

Most of this season, we have been a club divided.

Boardroom wrangles, two managers sacked, and fans and players about as disconnected at times as I can remember.

Yet, in a few short weeks, Morrison has changed all of that, and we have a club where it feels like everyone is pulling in the same direction again.

Albion have exhibited incredible mental strength and resilience to outwork and outfight teams week in, week out, resulting in an incredible 10-game unbeaten run.

And, following an unprecedentedly tumultuous week, Morrison kept minds focused on the task at hand as Albion confirmed safety for a second time on Saturday afternoon with a draw at home to Ipswich.

A truly testing week had been navigated flawlessly and, despite the best efforts of the EFL, our season was settled in the only place it should be – on the pitch!

West Bromwich Albion defender Callum Styles says they do not want the season to end after securing Championship safety.

The Baggies had clinched survival with a 3-0 win over Watford last Tuesday but were hit with a two-point deduction for breaching financial rules two days later.

It meant Albion still needed one more point to stay up heading into Saturday's home game against Ipswich Town and a goalless draw ensured safety for a second time.

That result also stretched West Brom's unbeaten league run to 10 games (W4 D6), during which they have kept seven clean sheets - and only three teams have taken more points in that time.

"We kind of don't want summer to come," Styles told BBC Radio WM.

"We're in good form, we could do another 40 games right now and then see where we're at then. Our form in the last 10 games would be top half, easy.

"We were quietly confident we could go toe-to-toe with Ipswich and get the point.

"You go into every game going for the win, but we come out of it with a draw and that means we're safe, so everyone's happy."

It was a good weekend for Styles, who was named as Albion's player of the season and players' player of the season, as well as walking onto the pitch with his new-born baby before the game on Saturday.

"I feel proud of what I've achieved this season personally and hopefully we can just kick on next season because this club shouldn't be down there, it should be up there fighting for promotion," the 26-year-old added.

"He [the baby] has been a massive blessing to our lives and it's just a bit surreal walking out with him. It's just amazing."

West Bromwich Albion interim boss James Morrison spoke to BBC WM after Saturday's goalless draw with Ipswich Town that confirmed their Championship safety again.

"We have done our talking on the pitch the past few weeks and it probably worked in our favour going into the game knowing what we had to do [after the points deduction]," he said.

"The lads have been in a good place, and I had no hesitations going into this game because we were in a good place with the fight and determination. It was there and they gave me the same performance again.

"We knew the fans would be right behind us, so we had to use that energy on the pitch, and I thought for 70 minutes we were there going toe-to-toe with a good side.

"For 70 minutes we were good but then there was a bit of fatigue, and we went a little bit into survival mode, but they brought on some good players so that might have helped them.

"The lads gave everything again - they kept going to the end and that's all we want really want and ask for."

Ipswich Town will aim to keep hold of their automatic promotion spot when they visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (12:30 BST).

They could already be ousted by the time they reach the Hawthorns with Millwall to play Leicester City on Friday, but the Tractor Boys could take a minimum three-point advantage into the final day if they beat the Baggies and win their midweek game against Southampton.

• Since 2000, West Brom are unbeaten in all seven of their home league games against Ipswich (W5 D2); their last such defeat to the Tractor Boys came in March 1999 (0-1).

• After their 1-0 win in October, Ipswich Town are looking to complete their first league double over West Brom since 1998-99.

• West Brom have only lost their final home league game in one of their last 22 seasons outside of the top-flight (W15 D6), going down 0-2 to Birmingham in 2003-04. The Baggies have won their final home league game in each of their last four Championship campaigns.

• Ipswich lost their only previous away league game at West Brom under Kieran McKenna 2-0 in November 2023; the only opponent the Tractor Boys lost both of their first two away league games against under McKenna are Preston.

• West Brom have won four of their last seven league games (D3), as many as their previous 27 beforehand (W4 D8 L15).

Earlier we asked for your thoughts after West Bromwich Albion secured Championship survival - on the pitch at least - with Tuesday's win over Watford.

The Baggies extended their unbeaten run to nine games under interim boss James Morrison and moved eight points clear of the drop-zone with just two games remaining.

Lingering fears of a points deduction after the club were charged with breaching the EFL's profit and sustainability rules notwithstanding, it has been an excellent finish to the season and Morrison has surely done enough to warrant a permanent role, should he want it.

Here are just some of your responses:

Ian: Staying up or not, Morrison has done a great job and deserves the manager role. He has united the club again. Hope it is offered and hope he accepts.

Keith: Get a statue erected alongside Bomber as soon as. That man has worked wonders.

Anthony: Give JM the job, he's done brilliant and the players like him too. Especially with the injuries some of the team have.

Steve: James Morrison definitely should get the manager role and keep his staff.

Mike: Just a week ago this could have been a very different story. The very fact that the improvement has not only not stalled but it's come with an upturn in form. What a fabulous boost for us, what a job James has done.

Paul: I believe Mozza has done so well in charge of the team because he's so passionately invested in the club, having spent so long there, it's a big part of his life. He may be reluctant to take the job permanently in case failure means he would have to move on. But I absolutely think he's the best for the job.

Andrew: I think Morrison should be given the chance to lead West Brom as full-time coach. I worry if things don't work out as I don't want him to leave the club. The way he has lead over the nine games, I think he has earned his chance should he want the job.

Kevin: After the financial calamities of recent years, this is a time of consolidation both at a business and a playing level. The current ownership seems to be handling matters well. We need the togetherness of players and fans to build up as some capital is built up. Morrison gets the club and the players and fans have rallied to him. Make him permanent; it's a no-brainer.

SG: Yes, Mozza should be given the job, however, with a guarantee that should it not work out, that he is guaranteed another job on the coaching staff at the club and not just sacked.

Gordon: He and the team have really turned it around. Two months ago we were nailed on for the drop with lacklustre performances and a nervy and disheartened crowd. To give the job to anyone else now would be a massive gamble by the board and we can't afford another season like this one.

Alan: Luck, just luck. We need a transformation plan from a manager who will create a team that plays in a way that scares the opposition. We don't have that manager.

Esther: He has brought the team together and the atmosphere at every game is great. Morrison looks as if every game is 'fun', as if it makes him happy. It certainly makes us happy and confident.

You're safe, Baggies...

That is, at least, barring anything hugely controversial with regards to potential profit and sustainability charges, which the club are hoping to avoid.

What a job James Morrison has done in interim charge at The Hawthorns.

Tuesday night's win over Watford made it nine games unbeaten, 17 points earned from them, six clean sheets and an eight-point buffer to the relegation zone with just two games remaining.

Surely he has done enough to earn the job permanently, should he want it? Is he your number one candidate or should the role go to someone else?

How are you feeling? What do you make of the turnaround in Albion's fortunes, having been second bottom on 11 March with just nine games to go.

Click here to have your say.

After opening the scoring in West Brom's 3-0 win over Watford to go nine games unbeaten, midfielder Isaac Price says there's a togetherness about the squad since interim boss James Morrison took over.

Price, 22, told BBC WM: "There's a real togetherness around the place. I think he's [Morrison] probably instilled a little bit of confidence is us when we weren't feeling the confidence.

"I think its more about going back to the basics - run for each other, fight for each other and the rest will come with it. The nice little bit of play that you see, that's probably off the cuff from the lads that are good enough to do that. But the real key message is: just be together, outrun people, outwork them and the results will come."

Price's goal came after 21 minutes at The Hawthorns and the Northern Ireland international was quick to praise Crystal Palace loanee Danny Imray after he provided the assist.

"I think I've probably had a lot of them chances this season. It's helped since Danny's come in, the threat down the right side has been terrific. His pace and power, then his detail on his crossing has been superb and I think it was an easy enough finish for me," he said.

Albion's final two games come against promotion-chasing Ipswich at home before a final-day trip to relegated Sheffield Wednesday and Price said his side, who sit 18th in the table, are looking to end the season on a high despite the threat of a potential points deduction if the club are found guilty of breaching profitability and sustainability rules.

"Genuinely, in the dressing room it's something we don't think about. You go into every football game wanting to win and wanting to get three points, and I feel like in the last nine games we've been great at doing that.

"Whatever's going to happen is going to happen but our focus is to go and win the last two games that we've got this season.

"We're going into every game wanting to win every game and I think it's a great opportunity for us players."

He added: "We know we've not been good enough this season and this club should never be in the situation that we've been in, but we'll be going into every game thinking: come on lads, let's go get six points and finish really strong."

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom interim boss James Morrison hailed his side for finding a way to win as they swept aside out-of-sorts Watford to pull clear of the Championship relegation zone with a 3-0 win.

Morrison, since succeeding the sacked Eric Ramsay in February, has guided the Baggies through a nine-match unbeaten run which has taken them eight points clear of the bottom three with only two league games remaining.

Albion must still discover whether they have breached the EFL's profitability and sustainability rules - if so, they could be punished with a points deduction.

Morrison, though, will continue to ensure that the squad focus on the remaining couple of games and aim for a strong finish to their campaign.

He told BBC WM: "They found a way to win. There were times in the game when it felt a bit flat, but once we stuck to the game-plan we started to hurt them on the sides - that's where the goals have come from.

"The fans deserve it. We've had a challenging time but we're getting our rewards for a bit of belief. We have just got to remain on our jobs and finish the season as strongly as we have been doing.

"As professionals it is our right to keep playing and the fans would be disappointed if they didn't see the level of performance we've been giving. We can rest at the end of the season.

"It's where we've wanted to be. It's a strange situation for everyone, but we'll keep doing our jobs on the pitch and enjoy this moment and keep working hard like I demand."

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom interim boss James Morrison says he will continue to "squash" reports of a possible points deduction among players and focus on the football.

The in-form Baggies beat Preston on Saturday to extend their unbeaten Championship run to eight matches and move five points clear of the relegation places with just three games to go.

Victory at home to Watford on Tuesday (19:45 BST) would have gone a long way to securing safety, but potential celebrations may be muted.

Albion are reportedly facing English Football League charges for an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules, talk of which Morrison has banned his players from discussing.

"We're in this position and we just wanted to go back-to-back with the wins and the success of winning and that feeling," Morrison told BBC Radio WM.

"As players that's what we drive for, that's our main focus and I've squashed it all week, so we'll continue on that.

"The football is doing its talking and that's the way it should be. We've got no control over it so we'll do our talking on the pitch."

Morrison has no new injury concerns for Tuesday's game at The Hawthorns, but is aware of the danger posed by Watford as Albion seek a fourth successive clean sheet and more valuable points.

"We're in a good place, we've got to use that," he said.

"We're coming up against a dangerous team and they've got some dangerous players.

"They're one of the youngest teams in the league, they've got some pace and some good footballers, so we've got to try and make it a difficult night for them."

Image source, Opta

West Bromwich Albion will hope to secure their Championship status for another season when they host Watford on Wednesday night (kick-off 19:45 BST).

The Baggies are 20th and five points clear of 22nd-placed Oxford United with three games to play.

If Albion win and the U's fail to do so at home to Wrexham, James Morrison's side will be mathematically safe - though there is still a potential points deduction for breaching financial rules which could change the final standings.

West Brom are undefeated in their past eight league games, while Watford, who cannot reach the play-offs or go down, are without a win in five (D2 L3).

• West Brom have won just one of their past 10 league games against Watford (D4 L5), though it was in this exact fixture last season (2-1).

• Following their 2-1 win in October, Watford are looking to complete the league double over West Brom for the first time since 1994-95.

• No side has drawn more home games in the Championship this season than West Brom (9), with five of their past seven league matches at the Hawthorns ending all square (W1 L1).

• Watford have lost each of their past three away league games, one more defeat than in their previous 12 league matches on their travels (W4 D6).

• Watford's Imran Louza has been involved in nine league goals away from home this season (4 goals, 5 assists); the last player for the Hornets to reach 10 in a campaign was Troy Deeney in 2018-19 (6 goals, 4 assists).

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion forward Daryl Dike wants to keep his scoring momentum "rolling" after ending his season-long goal drought on Saturday.

The American scored the decisive second goal in the Baggies' 2-0 win at Preston, just seven minutes after coming off the bench.

It was his first goal since netting on the final day of last season in a 5-3 win over Luton on 3 May.

"I'm just so happy," Dike told BBC Radio WM. "I've worked really hard for this and to contribute to the team, and being on the scoresheet is a great thing.

"Naturally as a striker you always want to score and to contribute, so working hard and seeing the products of your work on the pitch is a good feeling."

Dike admitted to "many lows" this season before scoring in his 22nd appearance of the campaign and thanked supporters who "have always believed in me".

"As a striker every single game I sit there and think, 'OK, today's going to be the day I'm going to score,'" he added.

"It's all you can think about, really, every single day, so finally it's like a little breath of fresh air.

"But now I'll be frustrated on Tuesday if I don't score again, so I'm just going to try and keep it rolling."

Rejuvenated under interim boss James Morrison, Albion are unbeaten in eight matches since a 2-1 defeat to relegation rivals on 28 February, picking up 14 points.

The run has left them five points above the drop zone with three games to play, starting with a home match against mid-table Watford on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

"Now we step into every single game thinking we can get a result, winning away to a tough Preston, and now we are at home; we have the support, the motivation, the camaraderie," said Dike.

"So going into Tuesday, why can't we win? We go into every single game now thinking that we can."

Sam Fletcher
Final Score Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

With eight games unbeaten, three successive clean sheets and a 2-0 win at Preston which puts everything in their favour, should West Brom back James Morrison as permanent manager?

Now five points above the drop zone, the risk of a possible points deduction because of a potential financial breach did not stop the Baggies at Deepdale.

Morrison said he had banned talk of the potential deduction and insisted they keep focus on the pitch.

They exploded out of the gate and found success with short, sharp passes and a battle-to-the-end mindset proven with the first goal grabbed from a battle in midfield.

There has been a significant upturn in form since he took charge as interim manager for the second time this season, only losing the first game of his stint - winning three and drawing five since then.

Before he took over West Brom had won only two in 16 league games.

If this form continues, even amidst the points deduction uncertainty, Morrison seems an obvious choice to take on the job permanently.