Morrison glum after derby defeat

Albion midfielder James Morrison could not hide his disappointment after his goal proved in vain in the derby day defeat to Villa.

Two goals in two minutes from John Carew and Gabby Agbonlahor had put Villa in firm control but Morrison halved the deficit after 34 minutes when he was first to pounce after Brad Friedel had fumbled Robert Koren's shot.

It was Morrison's first ever derby goal and second strike in as many games after he found the net against West Ham. It was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat and he admitted it made the outcome all the more tough to swallow.

He said: "It's good to get off the mark in derbies. I'd have preferred it was a winner. That's two in two for me now and hopefully I can get some more. We had lots of the ball but we just lacked the final cutting edge in the second half.

"We're disappointed. You've always got to be disappointed losing a game but this is a derby and we gave it everything. I think we just lacked a bit of concentration in the back four and sometimes we lacked that cutting edge in the final third.

"Credit to Aston Villa. They defended really well and probably deserved the win."

Morrison felt the Baggies enjoyed just as much of the possession but admitted Villa's superior rearguard action – made up of around £30m worth of talent – proved the difference in the Hawthorns clash.

He said: "I think we dominated most of the game with the ball but I think they were too good defensively," he added. "Every time the ball went in the box there seemed to be a defender there.

"If you look back on all the games we've dominated with the ball I think we've just got to tighten up at the back. I think we matched them but they have spent a lot of money.

"I'm not going to say we should get more players but we need to work hard with the players we've got and get better."

Morrison refused to blame Leon Barnett for the defeat, despite the defender being culpable for both goals, although he believes the loss of Abdoulaye Meite and Chris Brunt had made life the most difficult.

The midfielder said: "Leon was left out of the side. It's always hard when you have been doing so well and then you are left out.

"Abdou came in, for some reason he wasn't right, but Leon had to get mentally prepared. It was difficult for him but I think mentally he can cope with that.

"Then we lost Brunty and I think that affected our shape a bit."

Morrison does remain confident Albion can climb up the Premier League table - if they cut out the defensive errors.

He said: "The Premier League is everything I remember. It's high tempo, full of quality players and all about concentration, which we've been lacking.

"We've got to take into account how much we matched Villa but we've got to concentrate a bit more and get rid of the sloppy goals."