Eric Ramsay points to 'missing ingredient' behind scenes in welcome West Brom break

Albion lost the first two, including a home 5-0 drubbing, to pile pressure on last Friday's clash at Derby, where a point was salvaged thanks to Chris Mepham's last-gasp header.

Ramsay saw the days that followed Pride Park as a "reset", with players and some staff afforded some brief time off, before a first opportunity to coach sessions that do not involve recovery or match preparation due to no midweek clashes for the next two weeks.

"Yes, we will welcome a reset over the weekend and a chance then next week to really work," Ramsay said of a more free schedule.

"Because that, of course, as a coach coming into a club is all you want - time and the chance to stress test some of the things that you can talk about in a meeting room that you really need to feel on the pitch and that's what's been lacking so far.

"We've had a series of recovery sessions and match preparation sessions and nothing in between, which for me is the missing ingredient.

"It's the in-between bits that ultimately will lead to the group moving forward so I'll welcome next week and the weeks that follow."

Albion's return to action next weekend is a crunch one and another relegation six-pointer on the road at lowly rivals Portsmouth.

Pompey picked up a point against neighbours Southampton on Sunday and remain two places below the 19th-placed Baggies, but boast two games in hand with just two points the difference.

Ramsay's availability picture has eased with the return of natural midfielders Jayson Molumby and Ousmane Diakite, who both completed the full match at Derby with Alex Mowatt an unused substitute.

A full week's work is set to boost the likes of those on the comeback trail such as Mowatt.

The full extent of injuries to Kyristian Bielik (shoulder) and Karlan Grant (hamstring) are still to be confirmed after both took blows at Derby.