'We have to put our finger on why' - West Brom scarred by late blows and new boss highlights importance

New boss Eric Ramsay knows there is no time to waste in unpicking why "scarred" Albion have succumbed to so many late blows this term.

The Baggies face their biggest fixture in a number of years on Tuesday night with just four points separating them with the final side to occupy a Championship relegation place, visitors Norwich.

Ramsay's tenure at The Hawthorns began with familiar last-gasp woe on Friday as Middlesbrough struck to win 3-2 - a sixth goal conceded after 90 minutes this term - and sides around 19th-placed Albion picked up victories to make tomorrow's clash look perilous.

Ramsay said of another late blow: "Obviously I haven't got any scars of the previous 26 games and if it's a theme we really have to get our finger on as to why and it's a very difficult thing to do.

"I've also got to say, it's no one game will look the same, no one instant will look the same, but I think if you look at the (winning) goal back, it's a lack of discipline and concentration where we showed a lot of that in those situations in the first half.

"We were incredibly detailed, disciplined in terms of how we defended the box against a team that is exceptional in those moments and where we weren't , we came unstuck."

Eric Ramsay was well received by home fans on his bow on Friday night. (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Eric Ramsay was well received by home fans on his bow on Friday night. (Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)

The third-bottom Canaries climbed to within four points of a nervous Albion with a 2-1 win at Wrexham.

Ramsay, who is having to learn quickly about his new side on the job, added: "We need to take the best of the first half, which was restricting a very good Middlesbrough team in front of goal to very little, an own goal aside, with the best of the second half.

"That was us forcing the game more so, being very aggressive, taking risks on the ball and I certainly want us to be that team, home and away."

Ramsay was hampered by a lack of availability on Friday night and hopes midfield issues will ease this week.

He said: "Of course, at this stage in the season, losing points at home is in no way ideal and that's not lost on me, but I think at the moment I'm still super constructive about how I'm looking at things."

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