West Brom debrief: James Morrison enhances Hawthorns standing amid safety and possible home farewells | OneFootball

Albion secured Championship football for next season with a 0-0 draw against Ipswich at The Hawthorns. A two-point deduction after an EFL hearing had revived nerves, so relief at full-time was tangible.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, a fired-up home crowd, sensing injustice, drove the side on. Morrison’s team dominated for the first 60 minutes, wastefulness crept in late, but a solid defence saw the job through.

Stepping up as head coach, James Morrison has enhanced his Hawthorns standing. In the stadium’s 125th year he has guided a superb final two months, piecing together 10 unbeaten matches and staving off relegation.

Since replacing Eric Ramsay, Albion have faced sides in third, fifth, sixth and seventh, and matched them. A loss at Oxford in his first game made the run-in look daunting, yet timely wins over mid-table Preston and Watford steadied things. Left-back Callum Styles, a double player of the season before kick-off, suggested the squad do not want the season to end.

This could be the final Hawthorns outing for Daryl Dike, Josh Maja and Karlan Grant as contracts near expiry. Dike earned warm applause after a busy shift and has impressed lately, Maja’s cameo hinted at quality, and Grant, after an injury-hit campaign, got minutes. Captain Jed Wallace could hopefully feature at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday after light training, and Albion’s attacking options could be reshaped.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com