West Bromwich Albion manager James Morrison refused to let his squad ease off after their Championship victory over Blackburn Rovers, insisting the dressing room mentality remains one of relentless pursuit rather than satisfaction.
"We keep going until the end," Morrison told BBC Radio WM after the final whistle, a line that captured something about how the Baggies have approached their recent run of results in the second tier.
What the win means at The Hawthorns
West Brom had already ridden a wave of momentum before this fixture. A win against Blackburn adds further weight to that run and keeps the Baggies in contention in a Championship table where points are hard-earned and positions shift week to week.
For Morrison, who took charge of the club and immediately set about rebuilding confidence after a difficult spell, this result represents a further marker laid down. The Baggies had dropped points against Birmingham City in the local derby and required a morale lift; successive wins are beginning to provide exactly that.
Blackburn arrived at The Hawthorns on the back of their own recovering form. Tony Mowbray's side had celebrated their first away win of the campaign not long before, so there was substance to their challenge. The fact that West Brom held firm and converted that into three points sharpens the significance of Morrison's post-match words.
Morrison's message to the squad
What stood out in Morrison's reaction was not triumphalism but composure. His emphasis on "keeping going" signals that the manager views this win as a step in a longer process rather than a destination. That mentality matters in a division as compressed and punishing as the Championship, where complacency can cost a side four or five places in the table inside a fortnight.
Morrison has spoken previously about demanding maximum effort from his players regardless of the scoreline. Against Blackburn, that ethos appeared to translate into a performance that gave the side enough to bank the victory.
What it means for Blackburn
From Blackburn's perspective, the defeat will sting after the confidence their recent away win had generated. Rovers had shown enough in recent weeks, with midfielder Tyrhys Dolan and others contributing to a more coherent attacking shape, but the visit to The Hawthorns exposed gaps that Morrison's side were able to exploit.
Mowbray will know that away days in the Championship are unforgiving tests. A defeat to a rival chasing the same middle-table ground demands an immediate response, and Blackburn's schedule offers little time to regroup.
The bigger picture
For West Brom, the accumulation of points rather than any single performance will define their campaign. Morrison understands that truth. The Baggies have the squad depth and, increasingly, the collective belief to push into the upper half of the table if results continue to build.
The Championship is unrelenting; Morrison is making sure his team matches its pace.
Frequently asked
- Did West Brom beat Blackburn Rovers?
- Yes, West Bromwich Albion beat Blackburn Rovers in their Championship fixture, with manager James Morrison praising the squad's determination after the final whistle.
- What did James Morrison say after the Blackburn win?
- Morrison told BBC Radio WM that his side's approach is to "keep going until the end", emphasising that the mentality in the dressing room is one of continuous effort rather than settling for what has been achieved.
- Where do West Brom stand in the Championship after beating Blackburn?
- The win adds to West Brom's recent run of positive results in the second tier, keeping them competitive in a tightly contested Championship table, though the full picture will depend on how other results around them fall.