West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Mepham says the Baggies cannot afford to get carried away despite their impressive start to the Championship season.

Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, Albion lie fifth and are just a point behind leaders Birmingham.

Saturday's 3-0 win over Millwall at The Hawthorns made it 14 points from the past six games for James Morrison's side.

"Credit to everyone. The staff have been unbelievable," Mepham told BBC Radio WM. "There's real clarity... they have given us a clear understanding of what's needed.

"We're obviously buzzing, we would have taken this position at the start of the season 100%.

"In a weird way we have left some points out there as well.

"First half against Southampton we could have put the game to bed, suddenly that's an extra two points, but in this league you have to keep your feet on the ground, stay humble and stay grounded because it can change quick."

A hamstring injury prevented the 29-year-old from being involved in the final 14 games of last season as Morrison came in to steer the club away from the brink of relegation to League One.

But the Wales international was made vice-captain this season and took the armband in the absence of George Campbell on Saturday.

"I was really disappointed with my last season but I knew I have more to give," Mepham added.

"I feel in a really good place. This run of games have given me an opportunity to showcase it on a consistent level.

"Having the armband is a massive responsibility and I like to think I am rewarding [Morrison] with performances.

"I have to say there's more to come but playing on the right side of defence has allowed me to show my attributes on the ball."

While all the players have played their part in this run, midfielder Isaac Price has caught the eye in particular with six goals and three assists already.

Mepham added: "He's turning up game after game, he's our go-to guy and he's been doing it for a while now, [including] last season, albeit in a struggling team.

"This season he's looked a different player, he's taken on that responsibility of being the main man and he looks hungry."

We asked for your thoughts after West Brom turned on the style in the second half to earn a 3-0 win over Millwall and move within a point of the top of the Championship on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Albion fans

Nick: Fantastic progress under Jimmy. Look more solid at the back and are starting to fire up front. Need to make sure we can keep hold of Price, Molumby, JJ and Diakite in January.

Marcus: Excellent performance, particularly second half. Lovely third goal. This team will just get better and better. Competitive league this season.

Michael: Last season you turned up at the Albion because it was your team that was struggling, but this season you now look forward to attending the match to watch our team play football.

Margaret: After a frustrating first half, we were a different team. Some of our passing was magic and was a joy to watch, and nothing changed when the subs came on either. The players all seem to be on the same page - win, lose, or draw. As a fan you can't ask for any more.

Terence: Getting better every game now, starting to gel, took some time but we got there!

Dave: Morrison, since he came in and rescued the club from near relegation last year, his points tally is amazing. This year it's a new, hungry, fresh and young group of players, showing every match that they are listening to the coaches and working so hard for each other. Enjoying the watch with the anticipation of what might be a very good season. Credit must go to owners and recruitment, they are getting things right off the pitch, and Morrison and his staff, along with the players, are getting it right on the pitch - the football is a joy to watch.

Adam Cottier
BBC Final Score

By the time Isaac Price drove forward not long after the break to score with some fine precision on Saturday, West Brom had already upped their intensity.

Their second-half performance against Millwall had all the hallmarks of a side with the capability of staying in the promotion mix - and Price was too hot for the away side to handle.

Any fears of a record fifth goalless draw in a row in the fixture were swatted aside as the Nothern Ireland international took matters into his own hands as the protagonist for another impressive win for the Baggies under James Morrison.

West Brom have power. They have a high-quality midfield engine room consisting of the excellent Jayson Molumby and Ousmane Diaikite - the enablers who allow Price and others to thrive.

Price has magic in his feet. It doesn't always have an end product, but when it does, it tends to be spectacular.

He runs and he runs, getting West Brom up the pitch: a match-winning player that they need fit and firing if they are to be in and amongst the contenders come May.

Morrison's own foray into management continues to progress with vigour. Just six defeats in 29 games since he initially stepped into the breach in February tells a story of progress.

Saturday's game provided more evidence that he has made West Brom durable and threatening.

Key components in a league that may be about to produce one of its most exciting promotion races.

West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison spoke to BBC Radio WM after their 3-0 win against Millwall.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

West Bromwich Albion captain George Campbell is close to agreeing a new deal to reward his performances for the club.

The 25-year-old centre-back has started 12 of Albion's 14 Championship games this season plus both EFL Cup ties.

The Baggies have taken just one point from the two league games the United States international did not start.

Speaking before Millwall's visit to The Hawthorns on Saturday, West Brom head coach James Morrison said: "I understand there's been talks over a contract which is pleasing. I think he deserved it.

"I want George to keep concentrating on his football. I think he's got a few years left on his contract as well, so it's credit for the club to recognise his performances and reward him for his good play. He's in a good spot."

Campbell signed a four-year deal when he arrived from MLS side Montreal in July 2025 and appeared 41 times in all competitions last season, sometimes being deployed at right-back.

He will miss his third game of this season this Saturday - and both legs of the USA's Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti - after being forced off with an injury at half-time in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at home to Southampton.

"Unfortunately he's picked up a groin injury, he'll be about 10 to 12 days," Morrison added. "Not ideal, but not too bad. It'll hopefully just be one game [out for us]."

Image source, Opta

West Brom will aim to close the gap at the top of the Championship as they welcome Millwall to the Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Baggies are sixth, but only three points behind leaders Middlesbrough, after a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton on Tuesday which made it five games unbeaten from which Albion have claimed 11 points.

The Lions are 13th, five points adrift of the play-off places, after a 3-0 defeat at Birmingham the same night and have taken only four points from their past five games.

• West Brom are winless in their past 10 league games against Millwall (D7 L3) since a 2-0 away win in February 2020.

• Millwall are winless in their past eight away league games against West Brom (D6 L2). Each of their past six visits have finished level, with the past four ending 0-0 – no specific fixture has ever finished goalless in five consecutive matches in English Football League history.

• West Brom have lost just one of their past 14 home league games (W5 D8), going down 1-0 against Birmingham last month.

• Millwall have lost four of their past six away league games (W1 D1), including the past two in a row. They last lost three consecutively in March/April 2024.

• Isaac Price has been involved in four goals in his past five league games (3 goals, 1 assist), with all of these either putting West Brom ahead (2) or drawing them level (2).

West Bromwich Albion head coach James Morrison gives his reaction after the Baggies draw with Southampton.

For a written selection of his quotes click here.

West Brom and Southampton meet in the Championship on Tuesday night (20:00 GMT) as two of the division's in-form sides.

After suffering back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Birmingham City, the Baggies have taken 10 points from their subsequent four games while Southampton are hoping to extend a five-match unbeaten run.

• West Brom have lost seven of their past nine league games against Southampton, though both exceptions came in recent home games (3-0 in April 2021, 1-1 last season).

• Southampton have lost just one of their past six away league games against West Brom (W3 D2), going down 3-0 in April 2021 in the Premier League.

• West Brom have lost just one of their past 13 home league games (W5 D7), going down 1-0 against Birmingham City last month.

• Southampton have won their past two away league games, having failed to win any of their first four on the road this season.

• Across his time with both Preston and Southampton, Lewis Dobbin has been involved in five goals in his last seven away league starts (3 goals, 2 assist), netting what proved to be the winner at West Ham last time out.

West Ham United will be aiming for the top spot on the Championship table on Saturday but visitors West Bromwich Albion will have their own automatic promotion ambitions when they kick-off at London Stadium (15:00 GMT).

The Hammers are sitting just outside the top two as it stands, just one point below second placed Swansea and three adrift of leaders Middlesbrough.

However, Albion are only two points shy of the Swans themselves and will be hoping for a chance to get into the automatic promotion spots.

• West Ham United have won their last three league games against West Brom, as many victories as across their prior 15 meetings combined between 2008 and 2017.

• West Brom will be looking to avoid losing four consecutive league games against West Ham United for just the second time after a four-match stint between 1939 and 1947.

• West Ham have scored 32 goals in their 12 Championship games this season, their joint-most at this stage of any league campaign along with 1933-34.

• West Brom have alternated between winning (5) and not winning (D2 L3) across their last 10 away league games, drawing 1-1 at Preston last time out.

• West Brom have won 11 points from losing positions in the Championship this season – the most of any side, and already three more than the whole of their 2025-26 campaign

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston North End defender Andrew Hughes' opening goal against West Bromwich Albion marked the sixth consecutive league match where the Baggies have conceded first.

They have, however, endured a longer streak in their recent history.

Since the 2010-11 season, Albion have conceded first in seven successive league matches six times according to Opta.

The last time they did so was between December and January during the 2020-21 season, but they are at risk of hitting that total again as they prepare to visit Championship titans West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Should they concede first against the Hammers, they then face another big hitter in Southampton on Tuesday, 3 November in a bid not to see the run stretch into an eighth game.

The good news for the Baggies is they have rescued 11 points from the eight games they've conceded the first goal in this season, and it's their successful fightbacks that defender Chris Mepham is choosing to focus on.

"The big positive is coming from behind again, there is no questioning our resilience in the team," Mepham said.

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

West Bromwich Albion have taken 11 points from losing positions this season.

It is a tale of good resilience and a marker of the steely determination that James Morrison is nurturing, but his side must demonstrate more agility than they had at Deepdale on Saturday if they are to stay in the promotion picture long term.

By half-time against Preston they had enjoyed 75% possession. However, despite some neat and exciting approach play, decision making and the final pass let them down in the sodden conditions.

And they could not sustain such attacking intensity in the second half, Preston scored having improved themselves, and West Brom were left counting the cost of their profligacy in and around their opponents' box.

But back they came again, and against a Preston side who were playing their best half of football for quite some time.

The leveller - albeit following the controversial award of a throw-in their way a few phases earlier - underlined the Baggies' ability to respond well under pressure, even though they were perhaps lucky not to concede a penalty (or two) before the end.

There just needed to be that little bit more conviction in the final third on Saturday, but West Brom nevertheless ought to be really encouraged by their ongoing revival under Morrison.

West Brom boss James Morrison spoke to BBC WM after the 1-1 draw against Preston. For a written selection of his quotes click here

Preston North End could lift themselves off bottom place on the Championship table this week but would need to beat a high flying West Bromwich Albion side at home on Saturday (15:00 BST) to be in with a chance.

The Lilywhites are adrift in the basement by two points and have five points to make up on safety.

But the Baggies are currently in the play-offs and could potentially enter the automatic promotion places should results fall their way.

• Preston North End have won just one of their last eight home league games against West Bromwich Albion (D3 L4), a 1-0 win in October 2022.

• West Bromwich Albion have won six of their last seven league games against Preston North End (D1), conceding just three goals across those matches.

• Preston have lost more Championship games in 2026 than any other side (20), including five of their last six (D1); they last lost more league games in a calendar year in 2011 (21).

• West Brom have won their last two league games and will be looking to win three in succession within the same season for the first time since September 2024.

• West Brom have won 10 points from losing positions in the Championship so far this season, the highest total in the competition and already two more than they managed during the whole of their 2025-26 campaign (8).