James Morrison vows to continue 'honest' approach after outlining West Brom demand

The 39-year-old delivered a scathing assessment of his Baggies players after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Oxford.

But Morrison, who was this week confirmed as interim boss until the end of the season, has been encouraged by the response in training and believes the honest approach is the best one for his team.

He said: “I was very emotional after the game and I think I had every right. 

“I am going to be honest with the group and honest with the fans. That will be my approach and I think they will respect that.

“I wanted a reaction this week. I have felt it, which is good and positive. We have prepared them properly and now it is about executing the plan, being in the game and giving ourselves a chance. We’ve not been doing that.”

Morrison was particularly critical of goalkeeper Max O’Leary and defender Krystian Bielik.

He continued: “Maybe it was right, maybe it was wrong but I went with my honest opinion and I am going to be that going forward, honest to them. 

“I want them to be honest to me. I have opened it up to the group. 

“I want us to be tight-knit. It is going to need to be the tightest it has ever been in this situation. People are free to say what they want to say and then we move on.

“I have been at this club long enough to know this fanbase, what they demand, what they expect and what they want to see. 

“They are not stupid. They can see when a team is putting it in. If they do that, they will come with us. I am not expecting anything from them (the fans).”

Albion are winless in 11 matches heading into Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United but Morrison believes one positive result is all that’s needed to transform the mood.

“We need something to hang onto, which can get this ball rolling,” he said. 

“I go back to my time as a player, when Darren Moore was in charge, we got the first win and it spirals. It is about getting the ball rolling.”