'I wanted him to pass!' Delighted West Brom boss reveals truth behind George Campbell's 25-yard stunner
James Morrison saluted George Campbell after his 25-yard stunner earned Albion a precious point at Sheffield United - before revealing he’d wanted the defender to pass instead.
Campbell went from zero to hero when he thundered home an 83rd minute leveller, having earlier put through his own net.
The US international inadvertently diverted in Gustavo Hamer’s cross to give the Blades the lead but made amends in spectacular fashion, to salvage a draw which moved the Baggies out of the Championship drop zone.
Interim boss Morrison said: “That is George for you. I have asked him to play a different position and I thought he was doing really well at centre-half and then he scored an unfortunate own goal.
“But to react in the way he did, was excellent. In all truth, I was saying "pass it", as the most frustrated I had been in the game was when Ozzy (Ousmane Diakite) sent a shot 30 yards over the bar and into Sheffield city centre.
“I wanted the players to take extra care around the box and not be desperate to score with every opportunity. I was very surprised when he found the net!”
The draw, in Morrison’s second match in charge, was just the third point the Baggies had picked up on the road since October.
And though it extended their winless run to 12 league matches, it was enough to move them back above Oxford United.
It came a week after Morrison had delivered a scathing assessment of his team following a 2-1 defeat at Oxford.
The 39-year-old has since been placed in charge until the end of the season and was delighted by the reaction shown by his players, following his harsh words seven days previously.
“I was really emotional last week,” he said. “I probably said a few things I shouldn’t but I spoke from the heart.
“We got a reaction this week. Friday, I thought they were there and I saw it on the pitch today, the lads fighting for each other. Hopefully that is something to build on.”
Isaac Price had the best chance of the match early in the second half, before Campbell put through his own net.
The Blades then wasted chances to extend the lead, while Max O’Leary also denied Tyrese Campbell at close range.
Morrison added: “I thought we were too passive in the first half. We addressed it at half-time, to be more aggressive.
“When you come to Bramall Lane you need to be ruthless. When Isaac went through, it might have given us something to hang onto.
“But overall, I am very pleased. Up until the first goal, I didn’t feel that much of a threat.
“They got more chances when we had to open up.
“Overall, I am pleased. We have something to build on, something to grasp.”
