James Morrison could strengthen West Brom job prospects as 35-year first possible vs Oxford United
West Brom are looking to complete the league double against Oxford United for the first time in 35 years as James Morrison begins his latest spell in caretaker charge.
The Baggies go into the weekend having seen the back of Eric Ramsay earlier this week, who was sacked following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic.
Ramsay failed to win any of his nine matches in charge at The Hawthorns, while Albion’s winless run in the league stretches back to December last year.
Former midfielder Morrison has been put in charge temporarily, with his first match coming against fellow strugglers Oxford on Saturday.
Looking to pick up three points to strengthen their survival challenge, Morrison could end a 35-year West Brom wait against the U’s.
West Brom win could give James Morrison job boost
As of now, Morrison is in charge until the end of the season, with nothing serious of note linking the Baggies to a new permanent head coach just yet.
Saturday’s trip to Oxford is the perfect opportunity to put three points on the board for the first time this calendar year, with their opponents also struggling at the wrong end of the Championship.
It would also be the first time Albion have completed a league double against Oxford since the 1990-91 term, with the Baggies securing a 2-1 win against Saturday’s opponents in the reverse fixture last November.
Morrison has one job: to galvanise a group devoid of any confidence.
After making over 300 appearances for the club, and remaining unbeaten in three matches across previous interim spells at the helm, it could be said that Morrison is the perfect man to get this squad firing.
While he may not necessarily be the long-term solution, Morrison’s history with the club does give him an advantage over a potential outsider coming in with just 12 Championship matches to go.
Why West Brom can’t afford to make wrong appointment again
It goes without saying that the pressure is piled on the Baggies now, with just over two months left to secure their Championship future.
Following Carlos Corberan’s departure at the end of 2024, Albion have continued to misfire as a club, with the Ryan Mason and Ramsay experiments both failing miserably this season.
Clubs around them have opted for experience, with Leicester and Blackburn appointing Gary Rowett and Michael O’Neil respectively, while Albion opted to start a whole new project under Ramsay last month.
If West Brom are to survive this season, under either Morrison or someone from the outside, they simply have to get their next appointment right, and stick to one singular project, rather than pivoting in an entirely different direction midway through the season.
For more on West Brom’s new manager search, head over to Football Insider.