West Bromwich Albion

Chris Hall
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant once said: "Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise."

It is an opportunity the West Bromwich Albion players desperately need to take sooner or later because, at present, they are wilting in the face of a challenge.

Saturday's loss at Oxford United means the Baggies have completed two entire calendar months without a league victory.

It was a defeat that spoke volumes for the character (or lack thereof) within this squad of players.

Two weakly-defended set-plays led to Albion being 2-0 down inside half an hour and despite a 19-year-old academy product clawing the Baggies back into the game, his more senior colleagues could not match Ollie Bostock's levels of bravery and desire to mount a serious offence on the Oxford goal.

Interim boss James Morrison was visibly seething after the game.

He called out his centre-halves, his goalkeeper, the lack of bravery in attack and the lack of focus in defence.

Morrison then delivered this telling line after BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon asked if the team are mentally fragile at the moment: "Yeah, exactly that. We give them freedom and options to play, but when it gets a bit tough, we aren't there in the moments to deal with it."

It's not the first time an Albion boss has questioned the players' mentality.

Tony Mowbray's parting words upon leaving Albion in April 2025 were to say that you cannot question the talent of the group, but you can question the character.

A busy summer in which 10 senior players left and nine arrived was, presumably, intended to address that problem (as well as pressing PSR issues). It did not.

Albion started well but that was with Torbjorn Heggem, Darnell Furlong and Tom Fellows – once that trio departed, the Baggies' form soon dropped off a cliff.

Yet the issues that dogged Albion from that point on seemed less about a lack of quality and more about poor mental resilience.

For much of the season, Albion have led the Championship chart for mistakes leading to opposition shots and goals.

In terms of finishing, only Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn have currently underscored their xG by more than the Baggies.

You might say profligacy in front of goal is not necessarily an indicator of a poor mentality - it might just be an indicator of poor finishing.

However, Isaac Price started the season as the player overscoring his xG the most in the Championship.

At the start of his loan in 2023-24, Mikey Johnston scored almost every shot he took.

Last season, Josh Maja was 20% over his xG at the point he was injured.

All three are now among Albion's worst culprits for not scoring the goals they should have this season, according to the data.

In terms of ability, this is not one of the worst Albion squads in history.

However, if they cannot find the mental strength to pull themselves out of the mire, that is exactly what they will become because a second relegation to the third tier in our history appears very much on the cards.

Therefore, I leave the players with some advice from Arnold Schwarzenegger which I hope they take to heart: "Strength does not come from winning... when you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength."

See more from Chris Hall at Albion Analysis, external

Image source, Shutterstock

West Bromwich Albion winger Mikey Johnston is set for a period on the sidelines after the Championship club confirmed he had suffered a stress facture of his ankle in Saturday's defeat by Oxford United.

The 26-year-old had to be substituted after 22 minutes at the Kassam Stadium and will see a specialist in the coming days to determine the extent of the injury and how long he might be out of action for.

Johnston has only missed one one league game for the Baggies this term, scoring twice in his 34 appearances.

Albion lost 2-1 to the U's in an important match in the scrap to avoid relegation to League One as they began a third stint under the interim management of James Morrison.

Oxford's win took them to within three points of Albion, who are only one point above the drop zone.

West Bromwich Albion defender George Campbell said the Championship strugglers have to take control of their destiny and not pin their survival hopes on favours from other teams.

Albion suffered another big setback on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat at second-bottom Oxford United as James Morrison's began his latest spell as interim boss.

A seventh defeat in an 11-match winless league run, stretching back to 29 December, also pulled fellow strugglers Oxford within three points of the Baggies, and deepened concerns around The Hawthorns

"No-one would have predicted this in pre-season, but we don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves or to sulk," Campbell told BBC Radio WM.

"At this point of the season it's not about the manager, we just need to take accountability and show our quality in front of goal."

West Brom remain a point and place outside the relegation zone with 11 games of the season remaining after third-bottom Leicester City lost at home to Norwich City.

Their place outside the drop zone is only courtesy of the Foxes' own poor current form and six-point deduction, which they are appealing against.

"We need to head into the last few games of the season clear of that and not just hoping other teams have bad results," Campbell said.

"It's too late to rely on other teams. There's good teams around us, like Leicester is not a team that should be down there, and there are other teams that shouldn't be down there, so we can't expect anything from other results, we need to perform ourselves."

Sam Fletcher
BBC Final Score Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Unfortunately for West Bromwich Albion, possession does not count for points.

They left Oxford winless in 11 games and close to falling into the Championship's relegation places.

Interim manager James Morrison was unbeaten in previous spells coming into Saturday's game and perhaps had the hope of Baggies fans and the boardroom on his shoulders after the club sacked Eric Ramsay after just 44 days in charge.

They were not without chances and it felt like first-half substitute Oliver Bostock's smasher from outside the area might have been the catalyst for more.

Alex Mowatt whipped in decent balls and never stopped trying to create. However, the visitors walked off to boos from their supporters, jarring with the home sides' elation.

The question is what now? They have rock-bottom confidence, no permanent leadership and a relegation tussle to navigate between now and the end of the season.

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion interim head coach James Morrison says his side's 2-1 loss at fellow strugglers Oxford United was "not acceptable."

The defeat extended their winless run to 11 league games and came in a week which saw the Baggies sack head coach Eric Ramsay after a nine-game spell in charge.

West Brom are still one point above the relegation zone, but Oxford have closed the gap to the Baggies to three points.

"It's not acceptable," he told BBC WM.

"I thought we started the game on top in the first 15 minutes, but we knew what game plan was going to come and we didn't deal with it.

"They've got to take responsibility for that - two balls in the box, two goals in the first 30 minutes. How are you supposed to have a chance of winning a game away from home?

"Then when we were around the box we weren't creative enough, weren't brave enough. It's deeply disappointing."

Image source, Coventry City FC

You might not hear the old terrace refrain of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' as often as you used to, but it still has a better ring than 'the shirt's not fit for you to wear'.

Championship leaders Coventry City launched a new collection on Friday, proudly taking inspiration from a kit widely dubbed the 'Worst of All Time'.

A take on the club's infamous brown change strip worn away from Highfield Road from 1978 to 1981, the modern reinvention features what the club calls "a deeper chocolate plum colour with sky blue elements".

Many would suggest it sounds tastier than it looks.

But it's got us thinking... what are actually the worst EFL kits of all time? Let us know which of your club's shirts is hiding in the back of the wardrobe, or even if they were too ugly for you to even part money for them.

We'll collate a list of the biggest eyesores and will give you the chance to vote on the ghastliest of all next week.

Click here to let us know your suggestion, and you can even attach a picture if you really want to convey the horror.

Image source, Opta

Oxford United will seek to climb towards safety and drag West Bromwich Albion deeper into the mire when the two meet at the Kassam on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Albion would go into the game in the bottom-three should Leicester pick up a point against Norwich at lunchtime, having been pegged back by Charlton to draw 1-1 at the Hawthorns on Tuesday, which ended Eric Ramsay's winless eight-match reign as head coach after just 44 days.

The U's battled to a point at Middlesbrough last Saturday but a 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Wednesday left them six points adrift of the Baggies in 23rd and they have not scored a goal at home since Boxing Day, a run of six scoreless games in all competitions.

• Oxford are unbeaten in their past five home league games against West Brom (W3 D2), though their 1-1 draw last season is the only time they've hosted them this century.

• Following their 2-1 win in November, West Brom are looking to complete the league double over Oxford for the first time since 1990/91.

• Oxford have failed to score in each of their past five Championship home games, their longest run without a home goal in their league history.

• West Brom are winless in their past 13 away league games (D2 L11), while no side has lost more Championship away games this term than the Baggies (12).

• Only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday (11) have failed to score in more different Championship home games this season than Oxford (8).

Image source, Getty Images/Shutterstock

After Eric Ramsay was sacked as West Bromwich Albion head coach just 44 days on from his appointment, we asked for your views on whether it was the right decision and who should be the next Baggies boss.

Here are a selection of your responses:

Kieran: Honestly I think it is the right call for Eric to go. Unsure why the club hired him to begin with. If we can afford it I'd want Slaven Bilic back.

Stephen T: He was always the wrong appointment, his tenure has been a disaster from day one.

I just hope they take their time finding his replacement, even letting Mozza [James Morrison] take the reins till the end of the season with no pressure to stay up as the damage has been done.

Then we deal with whatever comes in the closed season and start rebuilding

Stephen W: Sadly, it was the correct decision to sack Eric Ramsay albeit it should have happened after the loss to Coventry. Out of his depth and his tactics - plus playing players in wrong positions - were confusing.

To bring stability I would leave Morrison in charge until the end of the season and, should we retain Championship status, break the bank and appoint Derek McInnes.

Scott: Ramsay was a risky and experimental appointment that, unfortunately, didn't work out so yes, it was the right decision. I'd love to have Bilic back or Lee Carsley if either are up for the challenge of keeping us up!

Rohan: I hate sacking managers, but even though he's a good guy, Ramsay's appalling record spoke for itself.

In terms of replacements, I don't think Dyche or Bilic would come, so I'd say [Lee] Bowyer after hearing him on a podcast. He's very experienced in these situations and has worked in worse. I'm surprisingly confident in Morrison too.

Ben: So although there were some improvements in defensive organisation under Ramsay, yes it is absolutely the right call.

The issues run deeper than him though as the Nestor situation shows and we just didn't replace the talent we lost in the summer.

I hope for a bounce back now as the players on paper are good enough to move the club to safety but with confidence so low, survival is probably 50-50.

Conrad: Ramsay, in spite of his excellent coaching credentials, did not have the experience and personality to tackle a group of players with complacency ingrained in them. He was also stubborn in his early games, attempting to impose his tactics within a short space of time - and failed miserably.

Overall, we've got 56 points from 53 league games under Mowbray, Mason and Ramsay. Three back-to-back appointments which have failed in the last 13-and-a-half months. The hierarchy needs to be accountable more than ever. I just hope we stay up.

Tom: Ramsay had to go, he appeared to be out of his depth and didn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation.

We need someone who will fire everybody up for the last 12 games, the only person that fits that description really is Slaven Bilic, if he's ready to go it seems like the obvious choice.

Otherwise they may as well let James Morrison have it till the end of the season as he's WBA through and through and given his time with West Brom if anybody deserves a chance to show what he can do he does.

Chris: Albion probably were right to sack Ramsay but this is really still just papering over the cracks. The problems at the club run much deeper and, whatever division we're in next season, an absolutely huge internal review is needed this summer before this club can move forward.

Dave: Should he have been sacked? No. But he shouldn't have been appointed in the first place. I'd have brought in a mentor for him. As for a new manager, surely it's worth picking up the phone to Gareth Southgate...

Nigel: The club is in such a mess right now. This is the consequence of having an owner that doesn't understand English football. One poor decision after another.

Inexperienced Ramsay was a terrible choice based on our league situation. Morrison would be our best bet at this point, but the quality on the pitch is lacking. I fear we are doomed to League One.

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion fans, where to start?

Eric Ramsay has been sacked as head coach after just 44 days and nine games in charge.

It is the second managerial departure at The Hawthorns this season after Ryan Mason was also relieved of his duties in January.

First-team coach James Morrison will once again take over on an interim basis with the Baggies one point above the Championship relegation zone with 12 games to play.

• Do you think sacking Ramsay was the right decision?

• Should James Morrison carry on as interim boss until the end of the season?

• Or would you like a permanent replacement brought in right away? And if so, who do you want?

Let us know your thoughts here and check back later to see a selection of your responses.

Steve Hermon
BBC Radio WM's West Bromwich Albion commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Eric Ramsay's reign was nothing short of disastrous. His tenure lasted just 44 days, which happens to be the same as Brian Clough's infamous spell at Leeds United in 1974.

That featured in a movie about the legendary manager's life, The Damned United, and it had elements of comedy, but if the Welsh head coach's stay at The Hawthorns were to be made into a film, the genre would have to be horror.

The 34-year-old leaves with a litany of unwanted records.

It is the shortest reign of any permanent Baggies boss in their history, he oversaw their heaviest home defeat in the second tier as they were hammered 5-0 by Norwich City, and his win percentage is 0%.

Taking just four points - courtesy of four draws - in his eight league games has dropped the club deep into a relegation battle.

Ramsay refused to say it, but he knew that Tuesday night's game with Charlton Athletic was a must-win.

He told me in his interview after the 1-1 draw that it wasn't good enough and that "what will be, will be", as if knowing what was to come just minutes later.

The former Minnesota United boss and his assistant, Dennis Lawrence, were summoned into a boardroom meeting with chairman Shilen Patel after his media duties were complete, and the axe fell.

The Welshman accepted in his final interview with me that he was "not blameless", and while he is no doubt a clever man, switching immediately to a 3-4-3 formation with players not equipped to play that way was not a smart move.

He promptly ditched it after another loss to Portsmouth.

Questions must also be asked of the players, whose failure to take chances has led to a second sacking of the season, and the third in less than a year, but the hierarchy must also provide answers to the fans.

Their naive decision to give the job to a second young head coach in a row has put the club at risk of an unthinkable drop into the third tier for only the second time in their history.

But there won't be time to analyse a host of mistakes now.

James Morrison begins a third spell in interim charge in the space of less than 11 months.

The former midfielder is unbeaten in the three games he's overseen and said, in his own words after the Swansea City FA Cup victory just hours before Ramsay's arrival six weeks ago, West Brom is "in his DNA".

With 12 games to go, he will do all he can to keep the club he loves in the Championship.

Meanwhile, back at boardroom level, and just days before the second anniversary of his takeover of the club, Patel will begin the search for his fourth head coach.

West Bromwich Albion head coach Eric Ramsay believes his side "absolutely" should have defeated Charlton Athletic following their 1-1 draw at home to the Addicks.

The Baggies boss was appointed in January but is yet to win any matches in the Championship since he arrived in the West Midlands and is under increasing pressure.

Albion initially led with George Campbell nodding in Alex Mowatt's corner in first-half stoppage time, but on 70 minutes Charlton's Lyndon Dykes raced onto a Kayne Ramsay pass and calmly finished between keeper Max O'Leary's legs to earn the visitors a point.

"Absolutely it's a game that we should have won and out of the three of the four games that we've drawn in the league recently, that's the one that you're looking at and feeling like we created good chances in open play," said Ramsay to BBC Radio WM after the game.

"We had a lot of territory at the top of the opposition's box and where we needed to convert that into more than a goal off a set play we didn't, and ultimately we put ourselves in a position where when the moment came that we did lack real decisiveness from a defensive perspective, we came unstuck and we find ourselves where we are.

"We only felt positive at half-time about the direction of travel of the game and I don't think that was a problem in the opening stages of the second-half.

"You felt like we'd be the team that would go on and score again and put the game to bed and we absolutely had to do that tonight."

West Bromwich Albion captain Jed Wallace says the struggling Baggies must target six points from two "huge" games in their battle to stay in the Championship.

Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by leaders Coventry left out-of-form Albion teetering a point and a place above the relegation zone and without a league win in 2026.

On Tuesday, they host 17th-placed Charlton at The Hawthorns before heading to second-bottom Oxford on Saturday, with pressure already mounting on boss Eric Ramsay, who was appointed just last month but is winless after eight games.

"We've lost to the league leaders and coming into this week, six points was the target for us, so we have two games now that are just huge, no getting away from it," Wallace told BBC Radio WM.

"It [Charlton] is a must-win. It's West Brom, we shouldn't be where we are, it's a privilege to play for this club and we need to start winning games."

Wallace was disappointed at conceding "so easily" to their West Midlands rivals and believed the performance was a step back from successive draws with Stoke and Birmingham.

After a run of four league matches without a goal, and just three points from their past nine games, Wallace said improvement is needed from every position in their fight against the drop.

"There's 13 games left, but regardless of what happens, people need to have a look at themselves in the short term and the long term, and we need to do better because we're letting the club down at the moment," he added.

Yet Wallace insists the lack of points is not down to a deficiency of effort or attitude.

"It matters, it's everything to the players, trust me on that," he said. "It's the last thing you think about when you go to bed at night. I'm there, I understand how everyone feels, I feel the same myself."

West Bromwich Albion can avoid a potential drop into the bottom three if they win Charlton Athletic at the Hawthorns on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The West Midlands side, who have yet to win under boss Eric Ramsay, may be at risk of entering the relegation zone should Leicester pick up all three point at Middlesbrough.

However, visitors Charlton will also be keen on ascending up the table, with a victory possibly taking them 10 points clear of relegation.

• West Brom have won just one of their last five home league games against Charlton (D1 L3), though this is the first time they've hosted them since a 2-2 draw in October 2019.

• Following their 1-0 win in November, Charlton are looking to complete the league double over West Brom for just the third time after 2002-03 and 1936-37.

• West Brom have won nine of their last 13 home league games against promoted sides (D2 L2), though failed to beat Birmingham in their only such game this season (1-1).

• West Brom have won just one of their last 12 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league matches (D3 L8), beating Norwich 1-0 in October.

• Charlton have lost four of their last six midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) league games (W1 D1), with their one win in this run coming against Stoke earlier this month.

Image source, PA Media

West Brom boss Eric Ramsay insists "there are no easy answers" to their plight after they lost 2-0 at home to Coventry to deepen their relegation woes.

The Baggies are just a point and a place above the bottom three and Ramsay is winless in his first eight games in charge.

West Brom fans booed at the end and Ramsay says there is no obvious way out.

He told BBC Radio WM: "There's no easy answer to our position and if there was an easy answer, someone would have arrived at it by now.

"We have to make sure we keep the approach, where we grind away, we don't get distracted, we make sure we push the messages we feel are important day to day and that the group responds to those.

"I was extremely disappointed with the manner of the goals and to come away with nothing, which in our situation is far from ideal and not what we would want in any way.

"I felt we started the game positively and aggressively, we connected with the crowd and there was real energy.

"Then we really let ourselves down after five or six minutes. Unfortunately another goal followed that quickly and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb."