James Morrison and Darren Moore comparison: 'It's a similar move - but this is a different West Brom now'

Morrison’s third spell in caretaker charge and his second this season has had the desired impact.

Since a defeat to Oxford - Albion have not lost with their Championship survival finally secured against Ipswich Town.

A deal to appoint Morrison as the permanent successor to Eric Ramsay is edging closer ahead of the final game of the season.

There is overwhelming support from the Albion fans for a man who played 341 times for the Baggies, predominately in the Premier League.

However, on the flip side of that there are a few who have a bit of trepidation around giving ‘Mozza’ the job on a full time basis.

And a lot of the reasoning given by that minority is because of the scenario and how it played out the last time Albion stuck with an interim manager.

That was in 2018, when Darren Moore, the man famous for scoring the goal that ensured promotion to the Premier League in 2002, was handed the caretaker role.

He was the fourth manager of a disastrous season, and almost, against all the odds, kept Albion up.

They were ten points adrift when he took over but he went unbeaten in the month of April with three wins and two draws.

But despite his heroics they went down - however he did enough to land the managerial role.

He had Albion flying at one stage with the side boasting the most potent front line in the division, thanks to the goals of Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez.

However, they began to falter and slipped out of the automatic promotion hunt, with Moore sacked as Albion sat fourth.

They failed to win promotion to the Premier League - beaten in the play-offs against rivals Aston Villa.

Given how that played out, are some fans right to have reservations over going down this path again?

Yes and no is the answer. It is a similar path, but the context is different and Albion as a club are different.

Back then, Albion had spent eight years in the top flight, and the pressure on Moore to deliver in his first season in charge was huge.

He didn’t deliver, and that is why the club acted. He was also under pressure because of the money he had to spend and the players he brought in.

This time around, things are different.

Moore had worked under previous managers, but Morrison has worked under more. His association with the first team stretches back to the Sam Allardyce days.

Aside from moving away from it for a period under Carlos Corberan, he has been in the wings, watching and learning.

The Albion he will inherit isn’t one that can go and spend big, but it is one that has Championship ready quality within it.

And the expectations placed on his shoulders when he lands it full time are far removed from what they were when Moore was in charge.

Albion won’t be gunning for automatic promotion. The owners will be striving for the play-offs, but if they finish tenth, everyone at the club will be pleased with it.

Morrison has shown he is capable and shown he is ready. Giving him the job is 100 per cent the right move.