West Bromwich Albion drew 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Easter Monday, leaving them four points clear of the relegation zone.
The Baggies are currently unbeaten in six games under interim head coach James Morrison, but have lost one of their last eight games in the Championship.
Morrison made an immediate impact on the group after Eric Ramsey failed to win a single game of football during his time in the Hawthorns dugout.
The former Minnesota United head coach lost five of his nine games in charge of the Baggies before being sacked and replaced by Morrison.
Owners will have to make a big decision in the summer before the Scottish tactician will only be in charge until the end of the season.
Why West Brom should hire James Morrison permanently
West Brom should give Morrison the opportunity to take up the job permanently for the 2026/27 season after outperforming the club’s last two permanent hires.
The Baggies brought in Ryan Mason and Ramsey, both of whom had no managerial experience in the division, on multi-year deals, but both were let go after failing to perform.
West Brom manager this season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
status | mason | ramsey | morrison |
game | 27 | 9 | 8 |
victory | 9 | 0 | 3 |
draw | 4 | 4 | 4 |
loss | 13 | 5 | 1 |
Points per game | 1.15 | 0.44 | 1.63 |
Morrison has the best points per game record of any West Brom manager in all competitions so far this season, winning three of eight games as a caretaker.
The Hawthorns’ 3-0 victory over play-off side Hull City was a match that showed Morrison was able to get the most out of his current squad, and was the club’s first league win since December.
The former West Brom midfield star has shown he can inspire players and get the best out of them, which is why he should be given the chance to see what he can do in the summer transfer window.
West Brom’s most improved player under James Morrison
One of the perfect examples of Morrison’s impact on the Hawthorns is that they now have a star player in the team who is shining after looking like the club’s new Oliver Burke under Mason and Ramsey.
Burke was a frustrating young player due to his lack of consistency in the final third during his time with the Baggies, and ended his spell with the club with one goal and three assists in 24 games.
Isaac Price scored one goal and provided one assist in 24 games between 22 November and 11 March, and looked set to become a new version of Scotland’s failing club.
But since Morrison took over from Ramsey, the Northern Ireland international has been reborn and now looks more like the new Matheus Pereira than the new Burke.
Of course, Pereira was known for his creativity and attacking flair during his time at the club, scoring 20 goals and providing 26 assists in 77 appearances.
West Brom’s last 5 games | |
|---|---|
status | Isaac Price |
key pass | 12 |
successful cross | 6 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 1 |
shot on target | 7 |
the goal | 2 |
dribbling success | 8 |
Price has been the Brazilian playmaker’s best performer over the last five matches, averaging 2.4 key passes and 1.6 completed dribbles per game.
In his one season with West Brom in the Championship, Pereira averaged 2.8 key passes and 1.5 completed dribbles per game, and also scored eight goals.
Although he has only played five games so far, Price is playing like a star for Brazil, having played as a right-back and right wing-back under Ramsey before impressing as an attacking midfielder under Morrison.
The Northern Irishman revived his season with a change of manager and no longer seems destined to fail at the Hawthorns, which is another reason why Morrison may have won the job permanently.
With the former Scotland international penning a multi-year deal, the hope is that Price can continue to shine under his wing and help the Baggies fight at the right end of the Championship table next season.
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