Eric Ramsay's 'scruff of the neck' challenge to West Brom's experienced group
Albion head coach Eric Ramsay has challenged his experienced players to help carry the club through the mire and overcome recent "baggage".
Albion, 19th in the Championship, head to Derby tonight looking to respond to Tuesday's home mauling by Norwich and halt a 10-match away league losing run.
It has been a baptism of fire for Ramsay having opened up with two home defeats to leave the Baggies just three points above the drop.
Albion fans have criticised a squad lacking in leadership despite club chiefs working to increase levels of experience and authority last summer.
"That's something that we've really got to push," Ramsay said of Albion's experienced players stepping up.
"And there has to also be a recognition that those players are carrying a lot as a consequence of this season and seasons that have maybe not met their expectations and the club's expectations.
"So my challenge to them is to move past that, focus on what we can do as a group now, what we can do as a group as we build into the next game.
"Make sure that they grab that by the scruff of the neck and feel like the group is moving forward every day and ultimately that's all they can control and all I can control as a coach."
Centre-backs Nat Phillips, Chris Mepham and Krystian Bielik, all considered peak age in terms of performance and experience and the latter a club captain, were recruited to bring know-how and leadership to the camp.
The trio have all been involved in promotion campaigns.
They join club captain Jed Wallace and long-servers such as Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby as the club's figureheads. Kyle Bartley, Darnell Furlong and Semi Ajayi, who all spent several years at The Hawthorns, departed.
Ramsay, meanwhile, is hopeful of a midfield boost tonight with Ousmane Diakite back and Mowatt and Molumby pushing to return.
"We've had players that are nearly there, we've got across four or five important players concerns that we want to help get them through for the benefit of the long term as opposed to short term gain for long term pain in a couple of instances," Ramsay said.
"We are nearly there with the players."
Albion completed the short-term signing of Bristol City goalkeeper Max O'Leary before the Derby clash.
The 29-year-old agreed a six-month deal in a permanent move as the first new arrival at The Hawthorns this month.
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