'We need everyone' - James Morrison issues rallying call as West Brom face another tight turnaround

James Morrison has issued a call to arms as Albion prepare to face QPR on Saturday declaring: “We’re going to need everyone.”

The Baggies are back in action barely 60 hours after leaving the pitch at Pride Park following Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Derby which sent them top of the Championship.

And while Morrison was determined to enjoy a victory which will live long in the memory, after his team triumphed despite playing most of the match a man down, the head coach’s thoughts were already turning to the next challenge.

Changes to the team are inevitable with Brayann Pereira suspended following his red card and fellow right-back Nolan Galves missing through injury, as Albion complete a gruelling schedule which will have seen them play seven matches in just 21 days.

“The players have to be ready,” said Morrison. “I will see how they come back into the building but I’m sure they will all be eager to play.

“I have to be careful with the squad. I can’t afford to lose many players.”

Morrison has not been afraid to shake things up, either through design or necessity, to this point with Toby Collyer the only senior player yet to make it onto the pitch at some point during a hectic opening month.

Pereira, dismissed after picking up two yellow cards just 34 minutes into his Baggies debut, was one of three changes to the line-up at Derby which also saw Nat Phillips replace Chris Mepham at the heart of defence and Jayson Molumby return to midfield.

Both Molumby and Phillips played huge roles in helping Albion hold out for the win and so far, Morrison is doing a very good job with the juggling act.

“I trust the squad and they have been proven to me, day-to-day in training and when we have played,” he said.

“I am comfortable making changes. If you are winning you are great but if you aren’t, you get questions. I stand by my decisions. It keeps everyone on their toes.”

At the same time, Morrison acknowledged the current lack of training time, owing to the relentless schedule, might have been a contributing factor to the sluggish start at Derby.

Aune Heggebo’s match-winning goal came from Albion’s first serious attack, with what proved to be their only attempt on target.

Though Pereira’s sending-off tipped the balance firmly in the home side’s favour, Morrison felt his team had not quite been at the races with 11 men on the pitch.

“You could probably sense in that first half of us not really training as much,” he explained. “It has just been game-game-recover. Credit to the lads to keep going.

“We will need everyone going forward now because these are challenging games. I will have to find ways. That is my job.”

Right now, it is difficult to imagine how the job could be going better. In the space of six months and just 18 matches, Morrison has transformed Albion from a team which looked destined for relegation to one which sits top of the table.

Not that the man in charge is about to get carried away.

“It is really nice but it is only the sign of a good start,” he said. “We have to keep going because we know this league, like we saw with the sending off, causes problems in terms of throwing things at you.

“We just have to try and keep the momentum going.”