Morrison always finds a way

James Morrison may only be in his infancy as a manager, but he's faced more challenges than many seasoned club bosses.

Morrison took over as interim boss in late February after the disastrous, winless reign of Eric Ramsay.

Things did not start well, a weak defeat at 23rd-placed Oxford United, which cemented Albion's own place in the relegation zone, was described by Morrison as "unacceptable" and he demanded his players take some responsibility.

The home truths he dished out that day lit a fire under many; Albion wouldn't lose again until the final day of the season, by which time they were already safe.

Another huge factor in Albion's surge to safety was a change in system Morrison implemented following the defeat in Oxfordshire.

They had scored just three goals in eight league games at that point, but a move to a front two resulted in the Baggies bagging 14 goals in the final 11 games of the campaign, using a narrower midfield and the dynamic duo of Callum Styles and Danny Imray at full-back to provide the width.

Morrison thought he had achieved mathematical safety with two games to spare after a home win over Watford, only for a two-point deduction dished out by the EFL days later to dash those hopes and leave Albion with work to do.

But, in trademark Morrison fashion, he dealt with the situation with consummate calmness, refusing to focus on things he couldn't control and, instead, encouraging his players to keep their standards high and get the job done. They duly did with a 0-0 draw at home to Ipswich.

Morrison was made permanent boss prior to the last game of the 2025-26 season and might have hoped for a less eventful ride in the 2026-27 campaign... but that has not been the case.

Albion had worked on a system throughout pre-season that had Alex Mowatt as (in Morrison's own words) its glue.

He was sold days before the season kicked off.

No matter, in came Felix Horn Myhre and Albion won their opening game away at Norwich 2-1.

Morrison had played with two strikers in every game up to that point.

But, days before the home clash with Burnley, he found himself without his starting centre-forward Aune Heggebo after the Norwegian was given a retrospective ban for a handball goal at Carrow Road.

Once more, Morrison was unfazed; he rejigged the side and won the match.

Then, just a couple of weeks later, Albion travelled to Pride Park, a ground where the Baggies had not won in 23 years.

Within 50 minutes, Morrison had lost both his right-backs (one through a red card, the other through injury), but regardless, the Baggies ran out 1-0 winners despite playing an hour with 10 men.

Then to Tuesday night. Off the back of two derby day defeats, with some of the worst statistics in the league and with no wide men to call upon (again), Albion found themselves 1-0 down and staring at a third consecutive defeat for the first time since April 2025.

But Morrison once more found the solution, introducing Heggebo and Jimmy-Jay Morgan to devastating effect as the Baggies turned the game around to win 2-1.

For a manager so young and relatively inexperienced, Morrison has an incredible ability to find solutions to problems.

However, if he could have to deal with fewer of them, we'd all be thankful.

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