Why QPR's opener made James Morrison chuckle to himself in West Brom draw
James Morrison was happy with his side’s effort and commitment against QPR and thought Albion were “dominant” - but undone with a “sucker punch”.
James Morrison was left with a sense of déjà vu that left him chuckling to himself after the manner of Queens Park Rangers’ breakaway opener on Saturday.
The Baggies were held by the Rs in the lunchtime kick-off that finished in a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.
It extended Albion’s unbeaten run to four games but Morrison was largely satisfied with the display barely 60 hours after Wednesday’s heroic 1-0 win at Derby with 10 men.
QPR opened the scoring on 38 minutes through Chris Mepham’s own goal against the run of play. Callum Styles equalised soon after but Morrison admitted the visitors’ breakthrough left him smiling to himself as it came in the same manner of Charlton’s recent leveller at The Hawthorns to claim a point at the beginning of September with their only shot on target.
“That was the first time they went near our goal, really,” Morrison said. “I chuckled to myself, it was similar vibes to Charlton.
“Again, it was just where the group is to come back and keep going, keep doing the right things and it shows you where they're at.
“I think that in the dressing room they're all disappointed not to have won and it just shows where they're at, in the belief that they’ve got in themselves.”
The head coach said: “I thought we were dominant, really. It was a sucker punch against the run of play. We just lacked that final bit in the first half but we got a nice goal.
“Second half we saw the games programme (schedule) really, a little bit of fatigue but we were knocking on the door - we just missed that little bit. Towards the end we didn’t capitalise on set plays or test the keeper enough.
“I think that was just down to fatigue, but the lads were going right to the end again. I can't really ask for anymore really.”
Morrison made five changes to the side that started at Derby. Goalscorer Styles answered the right-back SOS call with Nolan Galves (knee) injured and Brayann Pereira suspended.
Toby Collyer, Conor Townsend, Rabby Nzingoula, Felix Horn Myhre and Mepham all came in.
“I’m glad to,” Morrison said of the alterations in a seventh game in 21 days. “I like giving people opportunities. The lads who came in today were excellent.
“We lost the attacking threat a little, but it’s just where we’re at and we’re trying to find a way. It might have been a different game if we had gone in 1-0. They’re a really good team, I’ve been impressed by them.”
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