West Bromwich Albion head coach James Morrison has said there is growing belief in his squad ahead of the club's Championship trip to Derby County, speaking to BBC Radio WM ahead of the fixture.

"We've got some belief behind us," Morrison told the station, in what amounts to a straightforward statement of confidence from a manager who has been careful with his words since taking charge. The interview, broadcast on 8 September, was brief, running to five minutes, but the message was deliberate: Albion are going to Pride Park with momentum behind them rather than questions hanging over the camp.

The context at West Brom

The mood around The Hawthorns has shifted in recent weeks. Morrison drew a measure of praise for what he described as winning "ugly" against Watford, a result that suggested the side can grind out points when the football is not flowing. That pragmatism, allied to a transfer window the club characterised as "laser-focused", has given supporters something tangible to assess early in the campaign.

Toby Collyer arrived from Manchester United, and Morrison has spoken publicly about having a clear plan on deadline day, language that carries weight at a club that has not always operated with that kind of organisational clarity. Whether the additions have yet produced a settled starting eleven is another matter, and Derby will provide a stern examination of how far the belief Morrison cites actually stretches.

What Derby bring to this fixture

Derby County are no straightforward assignment at the best of times, and this fixture arrives at a pointed moment for both clubs. John Eustace's side have their own reasons to want a positive result, and the Championship table at this stage of the season rarely flatters anyone enough to encourage complacency.

Derby's own off-pitch story has been well documented. Chief executive Stephen Pearce has spoken publicly about the club's finances and the collapsed takeover that, in his words, left the club "adrift" during the summer. Against that backdrop, home fixtures carry particular importance for the supporters and the board alike. A crowd in good voice at Pride Park is a familiar and difficult environment, and Morrison will know that belief in a dressing room counts for little if it is not backed up by substance on the pitch.

Morrison's tone and what it signals

It is worth noting what Morrison did not say. There was no talk of targets, no division of the season into manageable chunks dressed up as "blocks", and no press-release language about "processes". A straightforward claim of belief is, in Championship management terms, relatively refreshing in its plainness.

That said, belief is a currency that depreciates quickly in the second tier. The division is unforgiving of sides that carry good feeling into a match without the structure and application to back it. West Brom have the squad depth and the budget to compete at the upper end of the table, and Morrison will be judged on whether that potential is being converted into points consistently, not just on individual occasions when the team has had to "win ugly".

Chris Mepham, who has spoken about not yet showing his best form in an Albion shirt, will be one to watch at the back. If the defensive unit holds firm at Pride Park, Morrison's upbeat assessment ahead of the game will look well-founded. If Derby find a way through, the questions will return quickly enough.

Kick-off at Pride Park is part of the September Championship programme, with both clubs looking to establish a foothold in what remains a fiercely competitive division.

Frequently asked

When do West Brom play Derby County?
The fixture is part of the September Championship programme. Morrison's pre-match interview was broadcast on 8 September 2026, confirming the trip to Pride Park is imminent.
Who is West Brom's head coach?
James Morrison is West Brom's head coach. He has been speaking publicly ahead of the Derby away fixture, expressing confidence in the squad's belief and momentum.
How are West Brom doing in the Championship this season?
West Brom have been building momentum, with Morrison crediting the squad for being able to win in difficult circumstances. The club also had what he described as a clear and focused summer transfer window.