West Bromwich Albion

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  1. West Brom's Oxford loss 'not acceptable' - Morrisonpublished at 18:37 GMT 28 February

    James MorrisonImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    James Morrison took charge of West Brom for the frist time as interim head coach

    West Bromwich Albion interim head coach James Morrison says his side's 2-1 loss at fellow strugglers Oxford United was "not acceptable."

    The defeat extended their winless run to 11 league games and came in a week which saw the Baggies sack head coach Eric Ramsay after a nine-game spell in charge.

    West Brom are still one point above the relegation zone, but Oxford have closed the gap to the Baggies to three points.

    "It's not acceptable," he told BBC WM.

    "I thought we started the game on top in the first 15 minutes, but we knew what game plan was going to come and we didn't deal with it.

    "They've got to take responsibility for that - two balls in the box, two goals in the first 30 minutes. How are you supposed to have a chance of winning a game away from home?

    "Then when we were around the box we weren't creative enough, weren't brave enough. It's deeply disappointing."

  2. What really is the worst EFL kit of all time?published at 17:08 GMT 27 February

    Coventry City's new Hummel kit, in deep chocolate plum with sky blue features.Image source, Coventry City FC
    Image caption,

    Coventry City's new 'deep chocolate plum' fourth kit pays homage to an away strip from more than four decades ago.

    You might not hear the old terrace refrain of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' as often as you used to, but it still has a better ring than 'the shirt's not fit for you to wear'.

    Championship leaders Coventry City launched a new collection on Friday, proudly taking inspiration from a kit widely dubbed the 'Worst of All Time'.

    A take on the club's infamous brown change strip worn away from Highfield Road from 1978 to 1981, the modern reinvention features what the club calls "a deeper chocolate plum colour with sky blue elements".

    Many would suggest it sounds tastier than it looks.

    But it's got us thinking... what are actually the worst EFL kits of all time? Let us know which of your club's shirts is hiding in the back of the wardrobe, or even if they were too ugly for you to even part money for them.

    We'll collate a list of the biggest eyesores and will give you the chance to vote on the ghastliest of all next week.

    Click here to let us know your suggestion, and you can even attach a picture if you really want to convey the horror.

  3. Pick of the stats: Oxford United v West Bromwich Albionpublished at 16:17 GMT 26 February

    Club badges bannerImage source, Opta

    Oxford United will seek to climb towards safety and drag West Bromwich Albion deeper into the mire when the two meet at the Kassam on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

    Albion would go into the game in the bottom-three should Leicester pick up a point against Norwich at lunchtime, having been pegged back by Charlton to draw 1-1 at the Hawthorns on Tuesday, which ended Eric Ramsay's winless eight-match reign as head coach after just 44 days.

    The U's battled to a point at Middlesbrough last Saturday but a 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Wednesday left them six points adrift of the Baggies in 23rd and they have not scored a goal at home since Boxing Day, a run of six scoreless games in all competitions.

    • Oxford are unbeaten in their past five home league games against West Brom (W3 D2), though their 1-1 draw last season is the only time they've hosted them this century.

    • Following their 2-1 win in November, West Brom are looking to complete the league double over Oxford for the first time since 1990/91.

    • Oxford have failed to score in each of their past five Championship home games, their longest run without a home goal in their league history.

    • West Brom are winless in their past 13 away league games (D2 L11), while no side has lost more Championship away games this term than the Baggies (12).

    • Only bottom side Sheffield Wednesday (11) have failed to score in more different Championship home games this season than Oxford (8).

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  4. 'Bring back Bilic but problems run deeper than Ramsay'published at 16:00 GMT 25 February

    BBC Sport's West Bromwich Albion your opinions banner
    (from left to right) Derek McInnes, Slaven Bilic and James MorrisonImage source, Getty Images/Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    (from left to right) Derek McInnes, Slaven Bilic and James Morrison

    After Eric Ramsay was sacked as West Bromwich Albion head coach just 44 days on from his appointment, we asked for your views on whether it was the right decision and who should be the next Baggies boss.

    Here are a selection of your responses:

    Kieran: Honestly I think it is the right call for Eric to go. Unsure why the club hired him to begin with. If we can afford it I'd want Slaven Bilic back.

    Stephen T: He was always the wrong appointment, his tenure has been a disaster from day one.

    I just hope they take their time finding his replacement, even letting Mozza [James Morrison] take the reins till the end of the season with no pressure to stay up as the damage has been done.

    Then we deal with whatever comes in the closed season and start rebuilding

    Stephen W: Sadly, it was the correct decision to sack Eric Ramsay albeit it should have happened after the loss to Coventry. Out of his depth and his tactics - plus playing players in wrong positions - were confusing.

    To bring stability I would leave Morrison in charge until the end of the season and, should we retain Championship status, break the bank and appoint Derek McInnes.

    Scott: Ramsay was a risky and experimental appointment that, unfortunately, didn't work out so yes, it was the right decision. I'd love to have Bilic back or Lee Carsley if either are up for the challenge of keeping us up!

    Rohan: I hate sacking managers, but even though he's a good guy, Ramsay's appalling record spoke for itself.

    In terms of replacements, I don't think Dyche or Bilic would come, so I'd say [Lee] Bowyer after hearing him on a podcast. He's very experienced in these situations and has worked in worse. I'm surprisingly confident in Morrison too.

    Ben: So although there were some improvements in defensive organisation under Ramsay, yes it is absolutely the right call.

    The issues run deeper than him though as the Nestor situation shows and we just didn't replace the talent we lost in the summer.

    I hope for a bounce back now as the players on paper are good enough to move the club to safety but with confidence so low, survival is probably 50-50.

    Conrad: Ramsay, in spite of his excellent coaching credentials, did not have the experience and personality to tackle a group of players with complacency ingrained in them. He was also stubborn in his early games, attempting to impose his tactics within a short space of time - and failed miserably.

    Overall, we've got 56 points from 53 league games under Mowbray, Mason and Ramsay. Three back-to-back appointments which have failed in the last 13-and-a-half months. The hierarchy needs to be accountable more than ever. I just hope we stay up.

    Tom: Ramsay had to go, he appeared to be out of his depth and didn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation.

    We need someone who will fire everybody up for the last 12 games, the only person that fits that description really is Slaven Bilic, if he's ready to go it seems like the obvious choice.

    Otherwise they may as well let James Morrison have it till the end of the season as he's WBA through and through and given his time with West Brom if anybody deserves a chance to show what he can do he does.

    Chris: Albion probably were right to sack Ramsay but this is really still just papering over the cracks. The problems at the club run much deeper and, whatever division we're in next season, an absolutely huge internal review is needed this summer before this club can move forward.

    Dave: Should he have been sacked? No. But he shouldn't have been appointed in the first place. I'd have brought in a mentor for him. As for a new manager, surely it's worth picking up the phone to Gareth Southgate...

    Nigel: The club is in such a mess right now. This is the consequence of having an owner that doesn't understand English football. One poor decision after another.

    Inexperienced Ramsay was a terrible choice based on our league situation. Morrison would be our best bet at this point, but the quality on the pitch is lacking. I fear we are doomed to League One.

  5. Was sacking Ramsay the right decision for Albion?published at 09:39 GMT 25 February

    BBC Sport's West Bromwich Albion have your say banner
    Ex-West Bromwich Albion head coach Eric Ramsay looks dejected on the bench during his last game in charge for the 1-1 draw with Charlton on 24 FebruaryImage source, Getty Images

    West Bromwich Albion fans, where to start?

    Eric Ramsay has been sacked as head coach after just 44 days and nine games in charge.

    It is the second managerial departure at The Hawthorns this season after Ryan Mason was also relieved of his duties in January.

    First-team coach James Morrison will once again take over on an interim basis with the Baggies one point above the Championship relegation zone with 12 games to play.

    • Do you think sacking Ramsay was the right decision?

    • Should James Morrison carry on as interim boss until the end of the season?

    • Or would you like a permanent replacement brought in right away? And if so, who do you want?

    Let us know your thoughts here and check back later to see a selection of your responses.

  6. 'Ramsay's reign a horror movie, not a comedy'published at 09:16 GMT 25 February

    Steve Hermon
    BBC Radio WM's West Bromwich Albion commentator

    Ex-West Bromwich Albion boss Eric Ramsay looks dejected during his final game as Baggies head coach in the 1-1 home draw with Charlton on 24 FebruaryImage source, Getty Images

    Eric Ramsay's reign was nothing short of disastrous. His tenure lasted just 44 days, which happens to be the same as Brian Clough's infamous spell at Leeds United in 1974.

    That featured in a movie about the legendary manager's life, The Damned United, and it had elements of comedy, but if the Welsh head coach's stay at The Hawthorns were to be made into a film, the genre would have to be horror.

    The 34-year-old leaves with a litany of unwanted records.

    It is the shortest reign of any permanent Baggies boss in their history, he oversaw their heaviest home defeat in the second tier as they were hammered 5-0 by Norwich City, and his win percentage is 0%.

    Taking just four points - courtesy of four draws - in his eight league games has dropped the club deep into a relegation battle.

    Ramsay refused to say it, but he knew that Tuesday night's game with Charlton Athletic was a must-win.

    He told me in his interview after the 1-1 draw that it wasn't good enough and that "what will be, will be", as if knowing what was to come just minutes later.

    The former Minnesota United boss and his assistant, Dennis Lawrence, were summoned into a boardroom meeting with chairman Shilen Patel after his media duties were complete, and the axe fell.

    The Welshman accepted in his final interview with me that he was "not blameless", and while he is no doubt a clever man, switching immediately to a 3-4-3 formation with players not equipped to play that way was not a smart move.

    He promptly ditched it after another loss to Portsmouth.

    Questions must also be asked of the players, whose failure to take chances has led to a second sacking of the season, and the third in less than a year, but the hierarchy must also provide answers to the fans.

    Their naive decision to give the job to a second young head coach in a row has put the club at risk of an unthinkable drop into the third tier for only the second time in their history.

    But there won't be time to analyse a host of mistakes now.

    James Morrison begins a third spell in interim charge in the space of less than 11 months.

    The former midfielder is unbeaten in the three games he's overseen and said, in his own words after the Swansea City FA Cup victory just hours before Ramsay's arrival six weeks ago, West Brom is "in his DNA".

    With 12 games to go, he will do all he can to keep the club he loves in the Championship.

    Meanwhile, back at boardroom level, and just days before the second anniversary of his takeover of the club, Patel will begin the search for his fourth head coach.

  7. Baggies 'absolutely' should have beaten Charlton - Ramsaypublished at 22:55 GMT 24 February

    Media caption,

    Ramsay: 'I can only feel I have controlled what I can'

    West Bromwich Albion head coach Eric Ramsay believes his side "absolutely" should have defeated Charlton Athletic following their 1-1 draw at home to the Addicks.

    The Baggies boss was appointed in January but is yet to win any matches in the Championship since he arrived in the West Midlands and is under increasing pressure.

    Albion initially led with George Campbell nodding in Alex Mowatt's corner in first-half stoppage time, but on 70 minutes Charlton's Lyndon Dykes raced onto a Kayne Ramsay pass and calmly finished between keeper Max O'Leary's legs to earn the visitors a point.

    "Absolutely it's a game that we should have won and out of the three of the four games that we've drawn in the league recently, that's the one that you're looking at and feeling like we created good chances in open play," said Ramsay to BBC Radio WM after the game.

    "We had a lot of territory at the top of the opposition's box and where we needed to convert that into more than a goal off a set play we didn't, and ultimately we put ourselves in a position where when the moment came that we did lack real decisiveness from a defensive perspective, we came unstuck and we find ourselves where we are.

    "We only felt positive at half-time about the direction of travel of the game and I don't think that was a problem in the opening stages of the second-half.

    "You felt like we'd be the team that would go on and score again and put the game to bed and we absolutely had to do that tonight."

  8. 'Two huge games, no getting away from it' - Wallacepublished at 12:53 GMT 23 February

    Media caption,

    Wallace: 'We're letting the club down'

    West Bromwich Albion captain Jed Wallace says the struggling Baggies must target six points from two "huge" games in their battle to stay in the Championship.

    Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by leaders Coventry left out-of-form Albion teetering a point and a place above the relegation zone and without a league win in 2026.

    On Tuesday, they host 17th-placed Charlton at The Hawthorns before heading to second-bottom Oxford on Saturday, with pressure already mounting on boss Eric Ramsay, who was appointed just last month but is winless after eight games.

    "We've lost to the league leaders and coming into this week, six points was the target for us, so we have two games now that are just huge, no getting away from it," Wallace told BBC Radio WM.

    "It [Charlton] is a must-win. It's West Brom, we shouldn't be where we are, it's a privilege to play for this club and we need to start winning games."

    Wallace was disappointed at conceding "so easily" to their West Midlands rivals and believed the performance was a step back from successive draws with Stoke and Birmingham.

    After a run of four league matches without a goal, and just three points from their past nine games, Wallace said improvement is needed from every position in their fight against the drop.

    "There's 13 games left, but regardless of what happens, people need to have a look at themselves in the short term and the long term, and we need to do better because we're letting the club down at the moment," he added.

    Yet Wallace insists the lack of points is not down to a deficiency of effort or attitude.

    "It matters, it's everything to the players, trust me on that," he said. "It's the last thing you think about when you go to bed at night. I'm there, I understand how everyone feels, I feel the same myself."

  9. Pick of the stats: West Bromwich Albion v Charlton Athleticpublished at 10:30 GMT 23 February

    Side-by-side of West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic club badges

    West Bromwich Albion can avoid a potential drop into the bottom three if they win Charlton Athletic at the Hawthorns on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

    The West Midlands side, who have yet to win under boss Eric Ramsay, may be at risk of entering the relegation zone should Leicester pick up all three point at Middlesbrough.

    However, visitors Charlton will also be keen on ascending up the table, with a victory possibly taking them 10 points clear of relegation.

    • West Brom have won just one of their last five home league games against Charlton (D1 L3), though this is the first time they've hosted them since a 2-2 draw in October 2019.

    • Following their 1-0 win in November, Charlton are looking to complete the league double over West Brom for just the third time after 2002-03 and 1936-37.

    • West Brom have won nine of their last 13 home league games against promoted sides (D2 L2), though failed to beat Birmingham in their only such game this season (1-1).

    • West Brom have won just one of their last 12 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league matches (D3 L8), beating Norwich 1-0 in October.

    • Charlton have lost four of their last six midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) league games (W1 D1), with their one win in this run coming against Stoke earlier this month.

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  10. Ramsay tells West Brom fans "there are no easy answers"published at 17:30 GMT 21 February

    West Brom boss Eric Ramsay has not won any of his first eight gamesImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    West Brom boss Eric Ramsay

    West Brom boss Eric Ramsay insists "there are no easy answers" to their plight after they lost 2-0 at home to Coventry to deepen their relegation woes.

    The Baggies are just a point and a place above the bottom three and Ramsay is winless in his first eight games in charge.

    West Brom fans booed at the end and Ramsay says there is no obvious way out.

    He told BBC Radio WM: "There's no easy answer to our position and if there was an easy answer, someone would have arrived at it by now.

    "We have to make sure we keep the approach, where we grind away, we don't get distracted, we make sure we push the messages we feel are important day to day and that the group responds to those.

    "I was extremely disappointed with the manner of the goals and to come away with nothing, which in our situation is far from ideal and not what we would want in any way.

    "I felt we started the game positively and aggressively, we connected with the crowd and there was real energy.

    "Then we really let ourselves down after five or six minutes. Unfortunately another goal followed that quickly and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb."

  11. Pick of the stats: West Bromwich Albion v Coventry Citypublished at 10:42 GMT 20 February

    The club badges of West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City side by side

    West Bromwich Albion enter this Midlands derby still seeking a first win under head coach Eric Ramsay.

    Having been appointed on 12 January, the Baggies have lost four and drawn three of his seven games in charge, which leaves them only two points clear of the relegation zone.

    Coventry returned to the top of the table with their first win in four games when beating second-placed Middlesbrough on Monday night.

    • West Brom have lost their past two league games against Coventry, while they have not suffered three defeats in a row against them since August 1968 (a run of four).

    • After winning this season's reverse fixture (3-2 in November), Coventry will be aiming to do the league double over West Brom for the first time since the 1969-70 campaign (in the top flight).

    • West Brom have drawn their past two league matches 0-0 (v Stoke and Birmingham); they last played out three consecutive goalless draws in league competition in February-March 1983 (a run of four).

    • Since the start of December, only West Brom (2) and Sheffield Wednesday (1) have won fewer points away from home in the Championship than league leaders Coventry (3 – W0 D3 L4).

    • Haji Wright has scored five of Coventry's last eight league goals, including a hat-trick against Middlesbrough last time out (3-1) – his second hat-trick in the Championship (also vs Sunderland in March 2025).

  12. Bartley calls for fans to get behind Albionpublished at 14:02 GMT 19 February

    Media caption,

    Bartley: 'The fans can have an affect'

    Former West Bromwich Albion defender Kyle Bartley has called for Baggies fans to get behind their team when they host league leaders Coventry City on Saturday (12:30 GMT) in their fight against relegation.

    Albion are currently two points above the drop zone and have not won a Championship game in 2026 so far.

    But the 34-year-old believes the home stands can help change the tide for the struggling side.

    "I would urge every single West Brom fan, for these next two home games, to get behind the team," Bartley told BBC Radio WM.

    "From a player's perspective, and being in that situation, the fans can have a real effect on the team and on individuals.

    "Just try and stick behind the team. If we can get to the end of the season and stay in the Championship, the recruitment process in the summer will look a lot different from what it has done in the past two years."

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