Eric Ramsay assesses West Brom bow: Some worked some didn't - but key factor is so important

Ramsay's changes worked as Isaac Price struck back with a free-kick and substitute Jed Wallace levelled things with 10 minutes left in the hope of a grandstand finish at The Hawthorns.

There was late drama - but the Baggies were once again on the receiving end of a hammerblow as Boro change Delano Burgzorg escaped the backline to sweep a low finish in across Josh Griffiths.

"Yes, it's very difficult," Ramsay said of the late blow. "Obviously it's difficult not to feel very disappointed. I wouldn't be human if that wasn't the case and certainly after we got ourselves back into the game, you could almost only see it going one way.

"So the fact that it hasn't is incredibly disappointing.

"But I always felt that coming into this game, irrespective of the outcome, it was going to be information for us as a coaching staff and for the players and of course, some of what we set out to do worked relatively well, some didn't and it was always going to give us food for thought as we move into Tuesday and I think I'm very much wrapped in the process of just making sure that we continue to get better and I'm not going to get too drawn into the highs and lows.

"It's difficult not to experience that today as a low low in the first half certainly, and then and then almost a high high at the end so it's difficult as a human being not to get swept up in that."

Ramsay changed formation for his first game at the helm with a back five and attacking wingers at wing-backs in the shape of Mikey Johnston and Samuel Iling-Junior.

The head coach's midfield options have been decimated with Alex Mowatt (foot) and Jayson Molumby (calf) injured and Ousmane Diakite away on compassionate leave. Callum Styles and Krystian Bielik, left-back and centre-half respectively by trade, started in midfield.

Ramsay's Minnesota often operated with less of the ball and that appeared to play out in the first period where Kim Hellberg's fancied visitors had around 70 per cent of the ball and led through Charlie Taylor's own goal just before the break.

Albion had started well and missed an early gilt-edged chance through Aune Heggebo. Sam Silvera's second for the visitors on the hour appeared to finish off Albion but Ramsay tweaked his options and the hosts hit back.

The home crowd responded, something that Ramsay was keen to stress.

"I felt it was just so important that we showed a reaction, that there was a connection between the team and the crowd as there was in the second half and that's something that I will for sure want to take forward," he added.

"I want to make sure that at home we do strike that balance between a team that's hard to play against and difficult to break down, but also front-foot enough, use the ball well enough to make sure that we we do the things that do spark connections between crowds and football teams and here you felt that in the second half.

"The power of that and the fact that we weren't able to use it to see the game out is disappointing, but it was there, which is a really important thing."