Lewis Cox's West Brom analysis: James Morrison delivers masterclass in razor-sharp focus and cool leadership

Albion’s turnaround under the rookie boss, who had three matches’ worth of experience as a caretaker before being plunged in the deep end two months ago, has been remarkable.

And that is why it was all the more painful when, this time last week, it developed the relegation-battlers could find themselves in hot water with the EFL.

The fear among fraught fans was that, for all the tireless recovery work under Morrison and his staff, Championship survival could be taken out of the club’s hands and into those of an independent commission.

The question mark still remains for now - but when it comes to what they can control Morrison’s men are on the charge.

Saturday’s impressive and dominant 2-0 victory at Preston North End’s Deepdale was just about the most important three points of the season.

Partly because there are only four games left, partly because rivals lost points and slid the door open slightly, and also because of fear of the unknown when it comes to possible sanctions following the alleged financial breach.

What Albion, under the ice-cool leadership of the understated Morrison, delivered in Lancashire was a masterclass in staying focused on the job in hand.

The soundtrack at Deepdale was “f*** the EFL” from a booming away end. Coincidentally the Football League’s headquarters are based just two miles away across town. Albion fans made their feelings heard loud and clear that the club are determined to seal their own fate.

The head coach, in charge until the summer, was firm in his message on Friday that talk of possible charges and points deductions was banned at Albion’s Walsall training base in the week.

And all of the focus on the task at hand paid dividends on Saturday.

Albion swept aside in-form mid-table Preston in emphatic style.

A scoreline of 2-0 did not do the visitors’ dominance justice and probably flattered the Lilywhites.

At this stage of the campaign, particularly with so much on the line, results are all that matter but the Baggies delivered a mature and polished team display full of composure.

Crucially, Albion also packed a punch and showed the extra bit of quality in the final third that Morrison has demanded.

A 2-0 victory, goals for strikers and a clean sheet is a dream for a head coach. The latest trip up the M6 certainly could not have gone much better for Morrison.

A couple of weeks ago Albion were unable to reward 7,500 travelling fans with a winner at Blackburn’s Ewood Park as the sides edged to a nervy stalemate.

This time, with another 4,000 boisterous Baggies in Lancashire, there was plenty to shout about.

The visitors wasted no time to get the ball rolling as Josh Maja underpinned his recent improvement with the composed finish to cap a wonderfully flowing team move. Isaac Price inspired the goal with jinking play after the excellent Alex Mowatt won possession before Aune Heggebo smartly fed partner Maja.

You are never be comfortable at 1-0 but Preston were surprisingly poor and Albion could have punished them further. It seemed one goal would be enough until Daryl Dike emerged from the bench to deliver the moment of a desperate season.

Jayson Molumby was superb and raced to the right byline, from where his low cutback was inch perfect for Dike to banish his latest injury demons with a fearsome thrash of his right boot.

The emotion in the celebration, both on the field and in the away end behind the goal, was palpable. It was the kind of roar not heard for some time.

A clinching second was more than enough for the triumphant visitors.

Albion knew ahead of kick-off that victory would move them five points clear of the relegation places with three games left.

There is little time to bathe in the glory as Morrison had the troops back in on Sunday - though he even joked about another spa session as a reward - as attention quickly turns to the visit of another mid-table outfit Watford on Tuesday.

It will be played against the curious backdrop that Albion could mathematically confirm survival with a win and if Oxford drop points against Wrexham - but for the question mark of legal wranglings at a hearing.

Regardless, the feeling is that if at all punished the Baggies will only be hit with a two or three point penalty.

There is a real opportunity to at the very least maintain, or ideally build on the five-point buffer.

That will be Morrison’s message - and he has got it all right so far.