The Baggies haven’t won since December 29 and came agonisingly close against Southampton
A dejected Isaac Price after West Bromwich Albion conceded late against Southampton (Image: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)
James Morrison admits he must lift West Brom’s dressing room ahead of Saturday’s crunch home meeting with Hull City, after the Baggies were hit by a late sucker-punch on Wednesday night.
Albion looked to be on course for a first win since the end of December after Jayson Molumby scored in the first half to put them a goal up against Southampton, only for Cyle Larin to loop in a stoppage-time header to salvage a point for one of the chasing play-off pack.
The Baggies are winless in their last 10 games, and remain in the bottom three ahead of their meeting with the Tigers this weekend, but interim boss Morrison is keen to take the positives as he looks to secure a rare victory against a City side who clocked up their 10th away win in midweek.
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“I’ve got mixed emotions after that one,” Morrison mused. “I’m really proud of the players’ performance. I asked for them to leave everything on the pitch, and they did. We were up against a quality side.
“In terms of physicality, you could see at the end that we were out on our feet. We had to try and make some changes to freshen it up.
“There’s some disappointment with the goal that we’ve conceded. I don’t think we should have thrown the ball into the box and then we need to try and stop the cross. We might have been a bit deep in the box too, but the finish hits the post and bar and then goes in. I’m disappointed with the goal.
“However, I’m upbeat. That’s the benchmark now and we need to bring that performance into Saturday’s game with Hull. I’ve spoken a lot this week about backing performances up. We need to keep doing it again and again. It was there.
“There were times where we took the gameplan literally, but once we made a few passes we were able to get the ball up the pitch and we got some crosses into the box.
“There are plenty of positives from that performance, and we need to make sure we recognise that, despite the obvious disappointment of losing a goal in the last minutes. It’s up to us now to make sure we deliver that same level of performance once again at home on Saturday.
“The lads are really disappointed, but I’ve told them I’m proud of them. We can be disappointed, but when we come back in, it’s one focus on Saturday and using the positives from tonight to fuel us. There was a lot to be encouraged by. As you imagine, the dressing room is low, but it’s up to me to pick us up and go again on Saturday.”
“The lads know it was a good performance, and I’ll keep reminding them. We just need to try and see out the game in the latter stages. Perhaps I could’ve helped them out more, but I made the decisions on what I had available. We have to keep moving forward, and Saturday is another chance to get points on the board.”
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