James Morrison warns West Brom
Saturday 26th November 2011, 10:59AM GMT.
West Brom midfielder James Morrison has warned they must avoid repeating last season’s dismal December.
But the Scotland star says boss Roy Hodgson’s experience will help the Baggies steer clear of another bleak winter.
Last season’s Carling Cup quarter-final defeat at Ipswich on December 1 triggered a run of nine losses in 12 games into the new year that cost former boss Roberto Di Matteo his job.
But Morrison believes Albion can avoid a similar slump this year and go on to match or better the 11th-place finish they achieved last term.
He said: “I don’t see why we can’t match what we did last year. We will need to learn from what happened last season.
“Come December we were flying and then the tough period came and we couldn’t really handle it.
“But with Roy’s experience I don’t think that will be a problem.”
Morrison is now targeting an extended run of matches in his preferred central midfield role after being deployed there in the last two matches.
And the 25-year-old admitted fitting into Hodgson’s plans has meant learning quickly and improving his defending.
“My defending has improved 100 per cent,” he said. “I am not renowned for my defending or my tackling.
“I think everyone has improved defensively under the gaffer and I certainly have.
“You just have to get your head down and get on with it. Everyone saw how well we attacked at the weekend, so we can mix it up a bit.
“I haven’t played regularly in the centre for a good few years now. I have played in a midfield three but not much in a two, which is a different challenge to what I’ve been used to.
“The gaffer wants me to play a different role. He wants me to be a lot deeper, shield the back four and not get as far forward.”
UK Sport
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