Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Cameron Smith

Mon 20 April 2026 12:00, UK

West Bromwich Albion are preparing to welcome Watford to the Black Country on Tuesday, as they look to continue their push for survival.

The Baggies can see the finish line approaching, with James Morrison’s side now within touching distance of securing their place in the Championship.

The former midfielder took over at the helm back in February and has overseen a sensational eight-match unbeaten run in the dugout, responding to a 2-1 defeat against Oxford in his first match.

Albion beat Preston 2-0 on Saturday, extending the gap to the drop zone to five points with three to play.

And if the latest prediction from Opta’s supercomputer is correct, West Brom are about to take another big step as Watford travel to The Hawthorns.

West Brom to take important step in relegation battle

Picking up results against multiple sides fighting for promotion since Morrison’s appointment, the Baggies have proven themselves capable of taking on any opposition in the division.

Now much more solid at the back, with the threat there on the counter, the Black Country outfit look like a stable, organised Championship side.

Ahead of Tuesday’s fixture, the Baggies have been handed a 44.4 per cent chance of taking victory by Opta’s supercomputer – a result that would lift their points tally to 52, a figure surely high enough to see Morrison’s side safe in the division.

Visitors Watford are winless in their last five Championship outings, while Albion are unbeaten in eight, seeing them take the title of firm favourites.

James Morrison has to be in the running for vacant West Brom position

Taking the job on an interim basis, Morrison has done a simply sensational job at The Hawthorns.

Stripping things back to basics after dismal spells under Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, each member of the squad has responded well to him, while his rapport with the fanbase earned him instant support.

Of course, hiring an interim manager permanently is always risky, but nobody could have foreseen just how good a job the Scotsman would do.

Over the summer, the Black Country outfit will be looking to complete a cultural reset after a season to forget, and Morrison should absolutely be involved in this in some way.

He has got to know the squad inside and out and has profiled them all correctly with a very common-sense approach.

An eight-match unbeaten run is no easy feat, even with the adage of ‘new manager bounce’ considered.

Looking ahead to the summer, the former midfielder surely has to be in the running for the job permanently as the Albion look to build.