West Bromwich Albion

The BBC's 72+ EFL podcast team have taken a look at the Championship relegation picture, with some huge games in store at the end of the international break.

Easter Monday (6 April) sees Blackburn and West Brom face-off, level on points just above the drop zone, just hours after second-bottom Oxford United head to Portsmouth.

Third-bottom Leicester will also head to Portsmouth and Blackburn during the run-in.

Former Watford and Reading winger Jobi McAnuff said: "We know Easter weekend is absolutely pivotal and that Portsmouth v Oxford game is looming large, though they both have another game first (on Good Friday).

"It could genuinely could come down to those matches against the teams in and around you. They are absolutely massive.

"Portsmouth are, at the moment, the team I'd be a little bit concerned about in terms of their current form.

"You take it game by game, of course, but that is 100% one everyone in the squad is looking at going 'we need to win that game - if we are going to stay up that is a must win.'

"This two weeks now for Portsmouth is going to be the longest because it's doom and gloom - (losing) 6-1 against a team on their holidays in QPR (in their final game before the break)."

McAnuff also hailed the impact of interim West Brom boss James Morrison, who has taken eight points from his five games at the helm after replacing Eric Ramsey, winning the past two and only being denied three straight wins by a last-gasp leveller against Southampton.

"The big thing about those games - clean sheets," McAnuff said. "When you are in a battle, being hard to beat is the fundamental thing.

"They were really close against Southampton and got pegged back right in the last couple of minutes. It could have been a killer blow.

"To come back from that and now find those couple of wins, they'll have gone into this break absolutely bouncing. The confidence, that feeling back in the dressing room, is absolutely massive at this stage.

"Massive credit to James Morrison because there were a few eyebrows raised. He knows the club inside out and sometimes that's what it takes.

"At the moment he's had a really positive upturn."

Chris Hall
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Albion's defeat by Oxford United on 28 February could well end up being one of the most important days in their season.

At the time, most thought it would be the day that signalled the beginning of the end for the Baggies' Championship survival hopes.

However, it appears that day might have been used as a line in the sand.

James Morrison said after the game: "When it gets tough, we don't get going."

That comment seems to have landed with many in the squad because "get going" is exactly what they have done since.

Albion are now four unbeaten since that dismal day (two draws and two wins), and ended a wait for an away win that stretched back to 1 October when they defeated Bristol City on Saturday.

It has been a remarkable revival for which head coach Morrison has been rightly credited.

But, while his leadership off the field has been integral, his captain's has been equally important on it.

Jed Wallace missed 16 league games through injury between late October and early January.

Albion lost a whopping 10 of those 16 games, yet few put the Baggies' poor form down to the absence of their skipper.

He returned with a bang after Ryan Mason was dismissed, scoring in the FA Cup for then interim boss Morrison before claiming a goal and an assist in Eric Ramsay's first game in charge.

Despite that impact, Ramsay only used Wallace sparingly across his eight league games with the Throstles' skipper averaging 41 minutes per match under the Welshman.

Morrison's appreciation for his captain appears much greater.

Wallace has started all but one of the five league games under Morrison so far, and he has embodied the new head coach's messages perfectly.

After the defeat at Kassam Stadium, Morrison demanded bravery, a stronger mentality and for experienced players to step up.

Wallace has not just heeded that call, he has set an example for others to follow.

No player in the Albion squad has recovered the ball more times, or won more ground duels, than Wallace over the past three games. Only midfield enforcer Ousmane Diakite has made more tackles in that period. Not bad for a right-winger!

But our captain has offered more than just tenacity and hard work - he has delivered quality and creativity too.

He has topped the charts for expected assists (xA) over the past three games, and only Isaac Price has created more chances than him.

Wallace turns 32 this week, but you wouldn't know it to watch him.

The way he flies around the pitch belies his age, and how he snaps at the heels of opposition players like a Yorkshire Terrier must make him a nightmare to play against.

His energy and enthusiasm appear to be rubbing off on his team-mates, who collectively made more tackles on Saturday than in any game for three months.

Former US president John Quincy Adams summed up the impact a true leader can have on a group better than I ever could, so I leave you with his immortal words.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

See more from Chris Hall at Albion Analysis, external

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion manager James Morrison has got his players "believing in themselves" after a second successive win, said the club's record goalscorer Tony 'Bomber' Brown.

The Baggies have escaped the relegation zone and moved four points clear of danger after their victory against Bristol City at the weekend, extending their undefeated run to a fourth Championship game.

"Albion, it runs through his [Morrison's] veins - he loves this club," Brown told BBC Radio WM after the win.

"He's took charge at such a difficult time and he's turned it round so quickly.

"He's gone to a system that suits them, I think that's a big reason. You have to be comfortable as a player when you're playing, you have to know your job, you have to know what you're meant to do and that's what Mozza has done."

But Brown thinks Morrison is not the only one who deserves credit for Albion's change in fortunes.

"You look to your captain to lead your team because he is the leader and Jed Wallace has led by example," Brown added.

"His work rate and commitment, they've all followed him. They've all seen that and they've all worked their socks off."

Listen to Brown's full thoughts on BBC Sounds

Listen to more West Bromwich Albion content on BBC Sounds

Marc Webber
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There may be a few West Brom fans tempted to ring up Fifa today and ask for the international break to be cancelled.

Because it interrupts a rejuvenation in form and performance which most players and fans will not want to end.

If beating Hull at home was not impressive enough, Saturday's result and performance away at Bristol City felt like a potential turning point.

Sure, Bristol City were not that impressive and now have problems of their own, but West Brom were committed and played in a determined manner.

Determined not just to win the game but determined to fight for a clean sheet and build a recovery.

For me the most impressive part of the win at Ashton Gate was how they held off a period of Bristol City pressure late in the game. The West Brom of mid-season may have capitulated to an equaliser in that scenario. This West Brom didn't.

A mirror of the past week faces The Baggies when they eventually return to play at Easter - a play-off chaser at home in Wrexham and an away trip to another team lower down the league, Blackburn.

Keeping minds focused and match fit will be the big challenge facing interim manager James Morrison in the next two weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom defender Callum Styles said a back-to-basics approach under interim head coach James Morrison is behind the Championship strugglers' upturn in fortunes.

The Baggies beat Bristol City on Saturday to claim their first back-to-back league wins since the opening two games of the season and also a first away win in 16 Championship outings.

Since beginning his third spell as Baggies caretaker boss, following Eric Ramsay's departure, Morrison has taken eight points from five matches.

"I think we've simplified the game under Mozza," Styles told BBC Radio WM.

"We've got players playing in preferred positions and we're going back to the basics.

"Everybody's just focussing on performing well and at the other end we're trying to create chances."

The run under Morrison has lifted West Brom out of the relegation places and up to 20th - four points clear of the drop zone, with seven games remaining.

"We've all come together and worked really hard behind the scenes and I think he's just given us the licence to take a bit of responsibility and given us confidence in what we are as players," Styles added.

"We've got a really good group of players, but throughout the season we've been really unlucky in certain situations and then we've not been good enough in other situations.

"So he's brought it back to the bare brick and building on what we've done under him for the last four games and we need to carry on with that."

West Brom interim boss James Morrison applauded his side's determination as they ground out a second successive Championship win at Bristol City to enhance their survival hopes.

George Campbell scored the only goal of the game in the first half to give the Baggies a first win on the road, in the league, since October and move them four points clear of the relegation zone.

Morrison, who has overseen a return of eight points from the last pive games, was pleased with his players across the board and has challenged them to resume their recent form after the forthcoming international break.

He told BBC Radio WM: "I thought it was a top away performance and it had a bit of everything. There was the fight and determination I keep talking about, but when we were under pressure we dealt with it. When we attacked, we got the opportunities. I'd have liked us to have put the game to bed, but we've seen it out.

"Everyone today was an 8/10 and that's what you need when you're away from home. Hopefully this away form continues.

"In the back of my mind, it's only one part done now. They can have a nice couple of days off, but when they come back in, they've got to be ready to work and be ready to fight until the end.

"I keep reminding them about that. From now until the end of the season there'll be ups and downs, as there always is in a relegation battle. It's about how we deal with that. It's a challenge we're looking forward to."

West Bromwich Albion will look to capitalise on their rare win on the weekend by claiming a back-to-back victory when they visit Bristol City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Baggies took their first win of 2026 against a 10-man, promotion-chasing Hull City on the weekend to take them out of the relegation zone.

The side are still only one point clear of the bottom three but with Bristol City low on confidence after a winless run of four league games (D1 L3), their big win could start an ascent away from danger.

• Bristol City have won their last two league games against West Brom (both 2-1) and will be looking to do the league double over them for the first time since the 1905-06 campaign.

• West Brom were beaten at Ashton Gate in this exact fixture last term (1-2) – they haven't lost there in back-to-back league campaigns since 1977-78 and 1978-79, when both were in the top-flight.

• Winless in their last four (D1 L3), Bristol City could go five consecutive league games without a victory for the first time since between December 2023 and February 2024 (a run of six).

• Only Sheffield Wednesday (0) have fewer Championship wins in 2026 than West Brom (1), although that lone victory did come last time out (3-0 v Hull). The last time they won consecutive league games was in their first two matches of the 2025-26 campaign (v Blackburn and Wrexham).

• Scott Twine has been directly involved in 16 goals in the Championship this season (10 goals, six assists); the most by a Bristol City player since Nahki Wells in 2022-23 (17).

Chris Hall
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

A little over two weeks ago, West Bromwich Albion appeared destined for the drop.

The Baggies had taken just one point from two 'must-win' games.

The first, a home draw against Charlton, cost Eric Ramsay his job. The second, a limp defeat at Oxford, saw James Morrison publicly call out his new charges for a lack of bravery on the ball.

He was right to do so - Albion had become a dire, frustrating watch.

Ramsay had started to stem the flow of goals against, conceding just three in his final four league games in charge, but Morrison knew the Throstles still had a huge problem at the other end of the field, scoring three in their past eight league outings.

Bill Shankly told us football is a simple game, and Morrison's overarching strategy to make Albion more of a threat was remarkably simple, even if the tactics behind it were more sophisticated.

In essence, it boiled down to this: get players who can score goals in quality goalscoring positions more often.

Morrison put passers at the back in the likes of George Campbell and Krystian Bielik (until the latter was injured against Sheffield United) and added pace to a side desperately crying out for it with Danny Imray at right-back.

He removed a player who seemed undroppable under the past four managers, Alex Mowatt and replaced him with perhaps less technical but certainly more physical and dynamic midfielders in Jayson Molumby and Ousmane Diakite.

And, in a move which has had a huge impact, he put Isaac Price in a role where he could truly influence the game.

After 11 Championship games, Price had scored just shy of half of the Throstles' league goals.

But the Northern Ireland attacker suffered a horrible run with just one goal in 25 league games and, while he was guilty of missing chances in that period, that drought was also due to the quality of those chances (or lack thereof) and an ever-changing role in the side.

Ramsay played the versatile player at right wing-back, right-wing and centrally.

Morrison has asked Price to play an inverted role off the left, a role which has seen him be prolific for his country.

His average xG (expected goals) per game has tripled, and he bagged his first goal in 11 against Hull on Saturday.

During Albion's 3-0 rout of the Tigers at the weekend, they had a whopping 48 touches in the opposition box, which led to 26 shots on goal. Albion have not had more in a league game for over four years.

Unsurprisingly, the forwards are revelling in the increased volume of chances.

Aune Heggebo and Josh Maja scored their first league goals since December and October, respectively, on Saturday, while Daryl Dike's wait for a goal goes on; he did get his first assist of the season against Southampton.

Regardless of the level they are playing at, Albion have, historically, been synonymous with attacking football.

It has taken an Albion legend to remind the club and players of that duty to entertain.

That nod to our illustrious past could prove the key to our future survival.

See more from Chris Hall at Albion Analysis, external

Image source, Getty Images

There have been plenty of contentious decisions in the 2025-26 Championship season so far.

Offside goals given, perfectly good goals ruled out, red card offences missed, penalties not given, dubious spot-kicks awarded. You name it.

With the video assistant referee (VAR) only used for the play-off final, the outcome of every second-tier game in the regular season can hinge on how on-field officials see incidents in real time.

• Would you want VAR introduced for every league game in the Championship?

• If so, why?

• And if not, let us know your reasons.

You can share your thoughts on VAR here or comment below, and we will publish a follow-up article soon with a selection of your responses.

When West Bromwich Albion tick off their final Championship game on 2 May, it will mark the end of a mammoth season spanning more than 13 months for forward Aune Heggebo.

The 24-year-old maintains playing football remains a "privilege" despite approaching a full calendar year without a break.

He began his campaign all the way back on 29 March last year, with Brann in the Norwegian top flight, and scored seven goals in 13 appearances before securing a move to Albion in July.

After reverting back to another pre-season, Heggebo's Baggies debut came on 9 August, and since then he has made a further 42 appearances, including two for Norway during international 'breaks'.

"Of course we have a bit of time sometimes to switch off and we all love playing football," he told BBC Radio WM.

"It's a privilege to get the chance as well as staying healthy, so for me it's only positives getting the chance to play that many matches."

But has he begun to feel just a little fatigued?

"You just have to work on your mind," Auggebo, who has netted 10 times for the Baggies, added. "Always focus on the positives.

"Of course you have ups and downs in a season but mainly I'd say I've felt good."

The Norway forward snapped a 17-match goal drought stretching back to 12 December by converting Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba's cross in Albion's 3-0 win over Hull City on Saturday.

It took his tally for his extended season to 17 from 55 appearances, with eight matches still to play.

"Those types of crosses as a striker you are always hunting for, so it was really good to finally get some goal involvements again," he said.

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion interim boss James Morrison said giving his squad the spa treatment was a factor in ending their long search for a win.

As well as time on the training ground and in the gym, Morrison sent the players for a spa day on Thursday as part of pre-match preparations in an attempt to calm tension.

The team responded by beating promotion-chasing Hull City 3-0 at The Hawthorns to end a 13-match winless run in the Championship stretching back to 29 December and move out of the relegation places in the process.

"I just tried something different," Morrison told BBC Radio WM.

"I want them to be able to breathe in this time because it is pressurised.

"I'm trying to take it (pressure) off them and let them be free and trying to play free as well like you've seen today.

"The spa day was only at a hotel just up the road but it seemed to work."

It was also the Baggies' biggest margin of victory this season and just the second time this year they had scored more than a single goal in a game.

"Goals have been hard to come by of late and one of the things we wanted to put right was how we can get better in front of goal," Morrison added.

"Having more people in the box, working on the crosses, getting down the sides of teams with the full-backs. Also being resilient so we can stay in games and give ourselves the best chance."

West Brom boss James Morrison spoke to BBC Radio WM after his side's 3-0 win over Hull City.

"It's been coming. The lads were fantastic, full of energy and hungry," he said.

"In my head I thought it might be a bit cagey and scrappy but the lads showed what they are capable of.

"The sending off came from us causing their backline problems. I've got to give credit to the whole team. Everyone did their job today and long may it continue.

"It's only a start. I'll enjoy this tonight because it's been a long time coming and I'll get right back on to them."

West Bromwich Albion interim boss James Morrison says the side are preparing for the relegation battle to go to the final game of the season.

The Baggies are currently 23rd on the table, one point behind Leicester in 21st place, but have the second poorest goal difference in the league next to already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday.

"We will be planning to go to the last game but if we can do it before that, that would be great," Morrison added.

"We've got to keep working, keep fighting until the end, until that final whistle at Sheffield."

Morrison is the third man to take charge of the team this season after the sackings of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, and has already made a change to the formation that seemed to work well during their 1-1 draw with Southampton on Wednesday.

The switch to a 4-4-2 system is an attempt from Morrison to "simplify for the team".

He added: "We never really see two strikers and sometimes the defenders don't have to defend so I wanted the opposition to feel the force and the power of what we've got."

Albion next face Hull City at the Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Listen to more West Bromwich Albion on BBC Sounds