West Bromwich Albion

West Bromwich Albion and Hull City will be searching for points to strengthen their positions at opposing ends of the table when they meet at the Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Baggies currently find themselves in 23rd place on the table but just one point away from safety to give them a hope of exiting the bottom three with a home win.

The Tigers, meanwhile, are comfy in the play-off positions, sitting nine points above seventh placed Southampton but also only six adrift of second placed Middlesbrough as things stand.

• West Brom are unbeaten in their last nine home league games against Hull (W7 D2) since losing 3-0 in October 2008 in the Premier League.

• Hull City are looking to complete their first league double over West Brom since the 1909-10 season.

• Since 2016-17, James Morrison will be the eighth different West Brom manager in eight home league games against Hull (after Pulis, Shan, Bilic, Ismael, Bruce, Corberan and Mowbray).

• Hull City have won 10 of their last 14 league matches when starting the day 20+ points ahead of their opponents in the table (D2 L2).

• Hull's Oli McBurnie has scored three goals in six Championship appearances against West Bromwich Albion, including the winner at the MKM Stadium earlier this season.

Chris Hall
Fan writer

Any Albion fan could be forgiven for losing the faith a touch at this point.

The Baggies had played 12 games, and 71 days had passed, since their last league win prior to Wednesday night's clash with Southampton at The Hawthorns.

To be pegged back in the 91st minute and denied that elusive win after leading for the whole of the second half will have left even the most optimistic supporter on the floor.

But once we pick ourselves up, we will see there are signs of life and reasons to believe under James Morrison.

First, Albion may not have won a game for more than two months, but at least they are losing a lot less.

Ten defeats in 16 matches was the run of results that spelled the end of Ryan Mason with the then Baggies boss openly admitting in the press: "We are losing too many games."

Recently, the Throstles have become harder to beat, losing just two of their past seven league fixtures.

The two most recent draws have also come against teams many would expect Albion to lose to. Sheffield United and Southampton sit sixth and fourth respectively in the six-game form table.

Saints have scored 15 goals in those six games; however, on Wednesday night, Albion restricted them to a measly 0.82xG (Expected Goals).

The Baggies have certainly tightened up at the back since conceding 12 goals in the first four games of Eric Ramsay's ill-fated reign as Albion boss.

The Throstles have shipped, on average, just a goal a game in the seven league matches since then, which is in line with how the best defences in the league perform.

The bigger problem is at the other end.

Image source, Getty Images

Albion have scored just four goals in that time, and it's been 10 league games since the Baggies bagged more than one goal in a match.

But, even in that regard, there's hope.

Morrison has switched to two up top with Daryl Dike and Aune Heggebo leading the line, and the interim boss has gone more direct, playing to the strengths of the pair of 6ft-plus strikers.

It may not have paid dividends in terms of goals; however, in terms of threat, it has.

Albion created 1.57xG against Southampton (their second highest xG in a league game for over three months), had six shots on target (the most for 12 games) and the added height in the team resulted in the Baggies being a big set-piece threat.

Of course, none of this equates to three points and a victory, but there are reasons to believe.

The counter-argument to that positive perspective is that the Baggies are one of just three teams in the 92 not to have won a league game in 2026 (the others are Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday), so expecting them to win three or four games between now and the end of the season seems like a tall order.

However, few saw an Oxford United side who had won just two of their previous 16 league games winning three on the spin – but that's exactly what has happened.

It's amazing what a victory can do for a side. Albion just need to get one before it is too late.

See more from Chris Hall at Albion Analysis, external

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West Bromwich Albion defender Danny Imray says the squad believe one win will "spark" their escape from relegation trouble in the Championship.

Wednesday's hard-earned draw against in-form Southampton was the Baggies second in as many games since James Morrison was appointed head coach until the end of the season eight days ago.

Although still in the bottom three, Albion are only one point behind Oxford United, in 22nd, and Leicester City, who lie a place above the relegation zone on goal difference.

The Baggies had looked like claiming a huge win against Saints, who came into the game unbeaten in 10, only to be denied by Cyle Larin's injury-time equaliser.

"I think at this moment we've just all got to be together, do the basics well, which we have been doing and just really fight for the badge and just try to get these three points," he told BBC Radio WM.

"If we keep on playing like that, then the luck's going to turn for us.

"I feel like, as a team, we just need that one win and I think it can really spark something.

"We can keep on building on and getting more wins and more wins and then get ourselves out of this mess.

"we just need that luck to turn for us now and I'm sure it will come because we're giving everything."

Having pushed Southampton, who knocked Fulham out of the FA Cup at the weekend, so hard, Imray said that has to give them confidence as they prepare for the final nine games of the season, starting at home to Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

"I thought that the performance from all the boys was positive and it's something that we can take forward and build on to Saturday," he added.

"They obviously beat Premier League opposition on Saturday, so we knew they were going to come here full of confidence.

"But we as a team, we know how good we are, we know the players that we've got and we don't really go into any game thinking we can't win.

"This club isn't in a position where they should be and we're going be putting in 100% and fighting for the badge."

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

If West Brom continue to play with the level of application they showed against Southampton - the sheer desire and doggedness needed in a relegation fight - then they ought to have every chance of avoiding the drop.

There's no quick fix when results have been so poor and anxiety levels are high, but interim boss James Morrison appears to have flicked a switch with the squad he has inherited.

And West Brom were rightly applauded off after the agony of conceding so late.

Still without a Championship win in 2026, the home support had witnessed green shoots of recovery, appreciative of their side's endeavour.

This was a gutsy and resilient effort against one of the country's in-form sides - and all with a slightly makeshift defence.

Morrison will hope his side can harvest some of the positive energy that was evident on the pitch and in the stands at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night, however galling his side's inability to fully fend off Southampton's threat will have been.

West Brom created a number of good chances and matched up to Southampton, looking like a side who can emerge from their slumber and make sure the club's proud record of being in top two divisions for all but two seasons in their history is maintained.

West Brom interim boss James Morrison says he has mixed emotions after his relegation-threatened side drew 1-1 with Southampton on Wednesday.

The Baggies looked to be on their way to their first three points this year but conceded an injury-time equaliser to dent their hopes of avoiding the drop.

The draw means West Brom are now winless in 13 matches and sit second bottom of the Championship table.

Morrison told BBC Radio WM: "I have mixed emotions. I'm proud of the lads, proud of the performance, proud of everyone – the crowd stuck with us, and cheered us on. It was a sucker-punch at the end, which we have to respect because they're a top team. But we matched them and have to learn from that.

"It's about game management. It was our throw into the box. Could we have kept it in the corner? Can we stop the cross? Are we a bit deep? Can we hold the line? Just things like that.

"We are all in this together. I thought we were shaky early on but once we got balls into the box we looked dangerous, I was looking at the lads because Southampton are a physical side – they weigh you down with the ball – so I had to use my bench, and utilise it as best as I could.

"The positive we can take is that we matched Southampton. They won in the FA Cup against Fulham, and we limited them to one or two chances. Now we need to back this performance up with a win on Saturday. As you imagine the dressing room is low, but it's up to me to pick us up and go again on Saturday."

With Leicester City playing on Tuesday night, West Bromwich Albion could find themselves back in the Championship relegation zone when they host Southampton on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

The Baggies have not won a league game since 29 December and host a Southampton side who upset Premier League Fulham in the FA Cup at the weekend and have won five successive Championship matches.

• West Brom have lost three of their past four home league games against Southampton (W1), more than they had in their previous 16 (W8 D6 L2).

• Southampton have won eight of their past 10 league games against West Brom (L2), as many as they had in their previous 22 (D8 L6).

• West Brom are winless in their five home league games so far in 2026 (D2 L3), last having a longer run without a home win from the start of a calendar year in 2003 (first 9).

• Southampton have won six of their past eight league games (D2), as many as they had in their previous 19 (D5 L8).

• Southampton are looking to score two or more goals in four consecutive away league games for the first time since December/January in the 2019-20 Premier League campaign.

After scoring at both ends at Sheffield United, defender George Campbell says Albion need to show the same battling spirit for the Championship run-in.

A sliding Campbell turned Gus Hamer's cross into his own net after 53 minutes to break the deadlock at Bramall Lane but he burst onto a loose ball and rifled home a 20-yard equaliser seven minutes from time.

It was the 24-year-old American's third goal in his past seven starts, and the point lifted his side back out of the bottom-three.

Campbell told BBC WM: "After the own-goal I was happy to get the goal and help the team get a point. It's much better than how we ended the [previous] game at Oxford.

"I was having a somewhat solid game, but mistakes happen. If it wasn't for the own goal I think we had a chance of a clean sheet.

"It was the first own goal of my first team professional career so all I was thinking about was trying to get the team back in it.

"I was just worried about getting my first touch right, after it fell to me I thought head down, laces through the ball, hit the target. After the first touch that was always in my mind.

"It's 100% the best goal I have scored, the only one outside the box and only the second with my foot. It fell perfectly for me and I had to take the opportunity."

Campbell says the spirit the Baggies players showed, a week on from a humbling 2-1 defeat at relegation rivals Oxford, should stand them in good stead.

"It was a game where we really stuck together and we're going to need that going forward. We need everyone to encourage each other and get us through the bad moments," he added.

"Oxford as a collective we kind of put our heads down a little too much but [against the Blades] we scrapped and fought as an XI to get back in the game, that was the difference and we're going to need that for the last 10 games of the season.

"Every point matters, especially away from home, our away form hasn't been great this year.

"At home we need to go for it, kills these teams and pick up three points."

Fresh from their FA Cup fifth round win at Fulham, play-off chasing Southampton head to The Hawthorns on Wednesday.

"We're going to need energy and quality on the ball," Campbell said. "Southampton can play really well, they will try to press us at times, we need to stay composed, run and tackle for each other and do our best to keep a clean sheet.

"Quality on the ball is going to be really important to break them down and make chances."

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom interim boss James Morrison praised his side's second-half display after they rescued a point away to Sheffield United.

Although their winless run was extended to 12 league matches, the Baggies moved out of the relegation zone thanks to George Campbell's late equaliser after he had put the ball into his own net earlier in the second half.

Morrison told BBC WM: "We were a bit passive first half, I wasn't really happy with that. We addressed it at half time, then we got a reaction.

"I didn't feel that they were on top or causing us a bit of trouble around the goalmouth, I don't think Max [O'Leary] really had much to do until they scored and we opened up trying to get back in the game.

"I have been talking about staying in the game, giving ourselves chances. We were away from home, we had to be solid, we had to make it a little bit ugly, we had to slow it down at times and wait for that moment when they come.

"We were a bit desperate in the final third, we were trying to score every time but it's not the case, we can take that extra pass.

"On the other hand, George intercepts it and buries it, so I don't know!"

Albion are back in action again on Wednesday when they host Southampton.

West Bromwich Albion will be hoping to avoid the drop into the relegation zone when they make the trip to see Sheffield United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Baggies are just one point above the relegation line as it stands and could drop into the bottom three should Oxford United beat Preston North End on Friday.

If the U's fail, then Albion will still need to be wary of Leicester hovering just below, meaning the only way to guarantee safety is to claim victory at Bramall Lane.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last four home league matches against West Brom (W3 D1) since losing 2-1 in December 2018.

• West Brom are looking for their first league double over Sheffield United since the 1997-98 campaign.

• Since the last international break in November, no side has won more Championship matches than Sheffield United (12), while only Sheffield Wednesday (0) have fewer wins in that time than West Brom (3).

• West Brom are winless in 11 league games, their worst run since going 13 without a win between July and November 2020.

• Gustavo Hamer has assisted a goal in each of his last eight home Championship starts for Sheffield United (nine assists). Since 2013-14 when Opta began recording Championship assists, this is the longest run of any player.

Image source, Shutterstock

Earlier we asked what you make of the news that, from next season, the Championship play-offs will be expanded to include the teams finishing seventh and eighth?

It was announced on Thursday morning that EFL clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams.

Here's a selection of your comments...

Josh, Derby: I don't believe this is necessary. I do think that the play-off format should be aligned throughout the top five leagues, but expanding isn't needed. Better distribution of the monies involved and establishing a clear matchday structure to balance various men's and women's leagues would be a better use of everyone's time. This strikes me undue American influence.

Callum, Dartford: I think it's a good thing so teams can push for promotion that thought they wouldn't get near the play-offs.

Cato, Sheffield: If we adopted it to this season, it means that eighth-placed Derby (on 51 points) have about as much a chance of going up as third-placed Millwall (on 63 points). Plus, to accommodate the extra games, would they extend the season into June? I don't like the idea of it at all, and I hope it's short-lived.

Steve, London: Another example of football being ruined, week by week. Don't you dare think about implementing VAR too.

Mark, Stafford: As a Stoke fan, I think it's good news. The season has come to a grinding halt due to being decimated by injuries. Add to that, the quality of what is coming down from the Premier League, it would mean upsets can happen and still allow teams in that mid-table race to dream of greater heights!

Richard, Stansted: Absolutely ridiculous. What is the point of a league format if you are going to make it a bigger lottery to include even more teams at the end of the season? It also brings teams that are even less ready to actually be in the Premier League into scope. But mostly it's the undermining of the league format which makes no sense. I'm a Derby fan - and we look like we would have a chance of benefiting from this if it were in place this season.

Andy, Nuneaton: Anything that expands the opportunities for those outside of the parachute teams is a good thing. We need to get away from this elite view of the Premier League. If it was up to them, they'd stop automatic promotion and relegation and have a system like Rugby Union, where it's based on meeting certain criteria. The eighth-placed club in the Championship getting to the PL? Bring it on!

Ron, Hayling: Money, Money, Money. Players complain about the amount of games they play with the league games and cup competitions so the intention is to play even more at the end of the season. Owners will make some money but that's all that matters!

Barry, Dartford: Yes it's a fantastic for everyone, all the small teams as well as the big boys, to have something to play for. It will give the end of the season something to look forward to.

Benjamin, Poole: I'm a Charlton fan, so it's unlikely we'll come 8th in the Championship any time soon, however, this is ridiculous. More pandering to Americans to make it more likely they'll make money, which is the only thing they care about. Sporting integrity out of the window again. Shame as I felt the Championship was the last bastion of quality and integrity combined. Game has gone.

Broughton, Derby: Absolute ridiculous, put it back to the old days of three straight up, no play-offs. If you don't make top-three you don't deserve to go up.

Julian, London: The worst decision from a footballing point of view ever! The National League teams have been trying to change their system to be like the current EFL system so it seems a very strange decision for the EFL to take. You can finish 8th after 46 games and still get promoted - sporting integrity has been totally lost with this decision. Money over integrity every time!

Steve Hermon
BBC Radio WM's West Bromwich Albion commentator

Image source, Getty Images

The events of today could prove to be hugely pivotal in Albion's future direction.

Although he hasn't registered a direct goal contribution since their last victory against QPR in December, Mikey Johnston remains their most creative talent.

The winger is a constant distraction for opposition defenders, so his absence is a major blow.

With Karlan Grant still a few weeks away from full fitness after hamstring surgery, it may finally open the door fully for 19‑year‑old Ollie Bostock.

The academy graduate was the only positive in their weekend defeat at relegation rivals Oxford.

He scored his first senior goal with a deflected effort after replacing the injured Republic of Ireland international.

The other significant development has come in the dugout and it's a move aimed at short‑term stability rather than complete change as former midfielder James Morrison will continue as interim head coach.

He certainly has the passion needed to drag Albion out of this mess, as he displayed in his post-match media duties at the Kassam Stadium, but will the players respond to the brutally honest assessment he delivered after the 2–1 loss?

It was refreshing to hear, but his "big defender" Krystian Bielik and goalkeeper Max O'Leary may not take kindly to being called out so publicly.

What was also clear when I spoke to Mozza on Saturday was that he would need help to steer the Baggies clear of the Championship drop zone.

The club have provided that in the form of Matt Gill. Some fans may raise an immediate red flag due to his association with Russell Martin, who it's safe to say has split public opinion in recent years.

Gill worked alongside him at Southampton and Rangers, but the 45‑year‑old assistant is a different character to Martin and widely respected as a coach.

He will provide a fresh voice to a fragile group of players, and a sounding board for Morrison, who was thinking out loud in his post‑match interview about how to approach their next game at Sheffield United.

The club legend first arrived at The Hawthorns 19 years ago and celebrated two promotions to the Premier League as a player.

Now as a manager, he has just 11 games to avoid relegation to League One. With what is at stake for the club's long-term future that may turn out to be the biggest achievement of his Baggies career.

Chris Hall
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant once said: "Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise."

It is an opportunity the West Bromwich Albion players desperately need to take sooner or later because, at present, they are wilting in the face of a challenge.

Saturday's loss at Oxford United means the Baggies have completed two entire calendar months without a league victory.

It was a defeat that spoke volumes for the character (or lack thereof) within this squad of players.

Two weakly-defended set-plays led to Albion being 2-0 down inside half an hour and despite a 19-year-old academy product clawing the Baggies back into the game, his more senior colleagues could not match Ollie Bostock's levels of bravery and desire to mount a serious offence on the Oxford goal.

Interim boss James Morrison was visibly seething after the game.

He called out his centre-halves, his goalkeeper, the lack of bravery in attack and the lack of focus in defence.

Morrison then delivered this telling line after BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon asked if the team are mentally fragile at the moment: "Yeah, exactly that. We give them freedom and options to play, but when it gets a bit tough, we aren't there in the moments to deal with it."

It's not the first time an Albion boss has questioned the players' mentality.

Tony Mowbray's parting words upon leaving Albion in April 2025 were to say that you cannot question the talent of the group, but you can question the character.

A busy summer in which 10 senior players left and nine arrived was, presumably, intended to address that problem (as well as pressing PSR issues). It did not.

Albion started well but that was with Torbjorn Heggem, Darnell Furlong and Tom Fellows – once that trio departed, the Baggies' form soon dropped off a cliff.

Yet the issues that dogged Albion from that point on seemed less about a lack of quality and more about poor mental resilience.

For much of the season, Albion have led the Championship chart for mistakes leading to opposition shots and goals.

In terms of finishing, only Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn have currently underscored their xG by more than the Baggies.

You might say profligacy in front of goal is not necessarily an indicator of a poor mentality - it might just be an indicator of poor finishing.

However, Isaac Price started the season as the player overscoring his xG the most in the Championship.

At the start of his loan in 2023-24, Mikey Johnston scored almost every shot he took.

Last season, Josh Maja was 20% over his xG at the point he was injured.

All three are now among Albion's worst culprits for not scoring the goals they should have this season, according to the data.

In terms of ability, this is not one of the worst Albion squads in history.

However, if they cannot find the mental strength to pull themselves out of the mire, that is exactly what they will become because a second relegation to the third tier in our history appears very much on the cards.

Therefore, I leave the players with some advice from Arnold Schwarzenegger which I hope they take to heart: "Strength does not come from winning... when you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength."

See more from Chris Hall at Albion Analysis, external

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West Bromwich Albion winger Mikey Johnston is set for a period on the sidelines after the Championship club confirmed he had suffered a stress facture of his ankle in Saturday's defeat by Oxford United.

The 26-year-old had to be substituted after 22 minutes at the Kassam Stadium and will see a specialist in the coming days to determine the extent of the injury and how long he might be out of action for.

Johnston has only missed one one league game for the Baggies this term, scoring twice in his 34 appearances.

Albion lost 2-1 to the U's in an important match in the scrap to avoid relegation to League One as they began a third stint under the interim management of James Morrison.

Oxford's win took them to within three points of Albion, who are only one point above the drop zone.

West Bromwich Albion defender George Campbell said the Championship strugglers have to take control of their destiny and not pin their survival hopes on favours from other teams.

Albion suffered another big setback on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat at second-bottom Oxford United as James Morrison's began his latest spell as interim boss.

A seventh defeat in an 11-match winless league run, stretching back to 29 December, also pulled fellow strugglers Oxford within three points of the Baggies, and deepened concerns around The Hawthorns

"No-one would have predicted this in pre-season, but we don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves or to sulk," Campbell told BBC Radio WM.

"At this point of the season it's not about the manager, we just need to take accountability and show our quality in front of goal."

West Brom remain a point and place outside the relegation zone with 11 games of the season remaining after third-bottom Leicester City lost at home to Norwich City.

Their place outside the drop zone is only courtesy of the Foxes' own poor current form and six-point deduction, which they are appealing against.

"We need to head into the last few games of the season clear of that and not just hoping other teams have bad results," Campbell said.

"It's too late to rely on other teams. There's good teams around us, like Leicester is not a team that should be down there, and there are other teams that shouldn't be down there, so we can't expect anything from other results, we need to perform ourselves."

Sam Fletcher
BBC Final Score Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Unfortunately for West Bromwich Albion, possession does not count for points.

They left Oxford winless in 11 games and close to falling into the Championship's relegation places.

Interim manager James Morrison was unbeaten in previous spells coming into Saturday's game and perhaps had the hope of Baggies fans and the boardroom on his shoulders after the club sacked Eric Ramsay after just 44 days in charge.

They were not without chances and it felt like first-half substitute Oliver Bostock's smasher from outside the area might have been the catalyst for more.

Alex Mowatt whipped in decent balls and never stopped trying to create. However, the visitors walked off to boos from their supporters, jarring with the home sides' elation.

The question is what now? They have rock-bottom confidence, no permanent leadership and a relegation tussle to navigate between now and the end of the season.