James Morrison Lauds West Brom's Determination in Hard-Fought Draw
West Bromwich Albion manager James Morrison has heaped praise on his squad following a gritty goalless draw against Millwall at The Hawthorns. The match, which spanned 100 intense minutes, saw both teams battle fiercely, with Millwall climbing into second place in the Championship standings as a result of the point earned.
Morrison's Pride in Squad Effort Amidst Adversity
In a post-match interview, an exhausted Morrison highlighted the exceptional effort from his players, who faced significant challenges including injuries and a youthful bench. "The lads gave everything, considering it was the third game in the week, after an international break," Morrison stated. "A lot of lads played a lot of minutes, a few got knocks and battled on to the end." He emphasized that the team pushed hard until the final whistle, creating several late chances in search of a winner.
The head coach made a tactical adjustment at halftime to counter Millwall's threat on the counter-attack, which he credited for improving Albion's control in the second half. "I thought the lads pushed on and we got them away from our goal for the majority of the second half," Morrison explained. Despite not securing the victory, he expressed satisfaction with the team's performance and competitiveness.
Missed Opportunities and Key Moments
West Brom came agonizingly close to snatching a late winner, with Jayson Molumby's low effort from close range being superbly saved by Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Additionally, Ousmane Diakite, who was named Player of the Match, headed a corner wide after being inadvertently blocked by teammate Nat Phillips.
Morrison admitted to being fully immersed in the match, living every moment as his side pressed for a decisive goal. "I think the scenes there, if we did score at the end, would have been beautiful," he reflected, acknowledging the emotional intensity of the occasion given Albion's position in the relegation battle.
Recovery and Looking Ahead
In recognition of the squad's efforts, Morrison has granted the players the weekend off to recover before resuming training on Monday. "They really deserve it," he affirmed, underscoring the physical and mental toll of the recent fixture congestion. This draw marks West Brom's seventh consecutive unbeaten game, though they remain in search of a crucial victory to bolster their survival hopes.
The result leaves Albion reflecting on what might have been, but with morale high thanks to a resilient display against a top-tier opponent. As the season progresses, Morrison's focus will be on building from this performance to secure vital points in the upcoming matches.
