Eric Ramsay's final words as West Brom boss before dismissal after nine-match winless 44-day reign

His final hurrah in charge was the 1-1 draw against fellow relegation battlers Charlton Athletic, where for the first time in his six-week tenure the Baggies briefly led a game.

George Campbell headed the Baggies opener before half-time but striker Lyndon Dykes finished coolly 20 minutes from time, prompting the axe to be wielded.

Ramsay appeared resigned to his fate in his final press conference, held just before he and assistant Dennis Lawrence met with owner Shilen Patel in The Hawthorns boardroom to be relieved of their duties just a month-and-a-half into a two-and-a-half year deal.

The axed head coach told the Express & Star he had given his all in a thankless bid to turn around Albion's sinking season.

"I genuinely don't think too much about that because I know it's a waste of my time and effort," Ramsay said when asked about his future.

"I'm one of those people that I can make sure I'm at peace with any outcome assuming that I feel like the level of work day-to-day has hit a certain point and I can put my head on the pillow at night and feel like I've turned over every stone and done what I can and kept level, kept balance, kept trying to push the group forward and that's genuinely how I feel at the moment.

"If that's enough, it's enough and if it's not, it's not."

Albion's final performance under the 34-year-old against Charlton appeared the most likely to bring a victory of any of his nine in charge.

He departed with four draws and four defeats from eight in the Championship and an FA Cup exit.

The Baggies created clear chances against the Addicks and 17 efforts in all but just two on target. Campbell's header on the stroke of half-time was all they had to show for it.

Things may have turned out differently for the head coach had Josh Maja or Isaac Price not wasted gilt-edged chances that came their way with the scoreline at 1-0.

Mikey Johnston was denied by a last-ditch challenge and loanee Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba's last-gasp volley flashed inches wide of the right post.

"In isolation this performance is not a problem," Ramsay said. "It's a dominant performance at home, it's a performance from which we create a number of really good chances.

"We are obviously kicking ourselves in the manner in which we concede the goal, it's really disappointing, not enough conviction, not enough execution around really important details.

"But this performance in isolation isn't obviously what we're talking about. We're adding this to multiple draws, not enough wins, not getting over the line. So it has the feeling of a step backwards."

He added: "I know what the situation needs at the moment. The situation needs wins, it doesn't need draws and we've obviously had too many of those over the last four."

Ramsay signed off from his final press conference labelling an improved performance but frustrating draw "the feeling of a step backwards overall".

He acknowledged on several occasions that draws were not what the club needed.