Eric Ramsay's view on West Brom formation change, accountability and 'setting tone'

The pair of stalemates stopped the rot after heavy defeats against relegation rivals.

Ramsay moved away from the 3-4-3 formation he opted for upon his appointment and Albion appeared more defensively stable as a result. The Baggies welcome leaders Coventry on Saturday lunchtime to kickstart a vital three-game week including clashes against lowly rivals Charlton and Oxford.

"They've responded really well, not just to the system but the messages and some of the subtleties to it, which has been really important," Ramsay said.

"If I was to have picked one thing after Portsmouth that I would have chosen to be an outcome from the following two games, it would have been clean sheets and solidity, and a real sense of fight, togetherness and spirit added to that, and that's exactly what we saw."

Ramsay added that accountability was required on both sides, particularly after a miserable 3-0 defeat at Fratton Park where the basics were questioned of Albion players.

"I think as a coach you always have to look at yourself first and look at set-up and message and system, and whether it firstly gives the players the platform to do what they need to do in a situation like this," Ramsay continued.

"There's an element of that, there's an element of accountability on the players' part, absolutely, and I think they would be the first to say that.

"But the two games have shown that we can answer that question quickly and that was so important that on the back of that we were able to respond, we were able to look like an entirely different team, because that sets a tone for the 14 games that follow.

"If that hadn't been the case then it would have been in tricky territory."