James Morrison says he welcomes the weight of expectation that now follows West Bromwich Albion around after Saturday's 3-1 win at West Ham United lifted the Baggies to fourth in the Championship table, though the head coach is already thinking about how to keep a lid on the growing excitement.

A statement afternoon in east London

The victory at the London Stadium was exactly the sort of result that plants a club firmly in the promotion conversation. Albion are now two points above West Ham and just two points outside the automatic promotion places, in a division so congested that only 10 points separate the side in first from the team in 14th.

Morrison called it "a complete performance" in his post-match comments to BBC Sport, though he was candid enough to acknowledge a moment of frustration. "Their goal came from a bit of Premier League quality," he said. "I was a bit disappointed to go in 1-1 because that was the only chance they had." The response in the second half, he added, was "probably why I am so pleased."

The win brought Albion's away record to 13 points from seven games on the road, and 10 points from their past four matches in all. Those are figures that do not belong to a side quietly making up the numbers.

From the brink of League One to the fringes of automatic promotion

The pace of Morrison's turnaround at the Hawthorns is worth setting in its proper context. He was placed in interim charge in February, with the club in genuine danger of slipping into the third tier. After steadying the ship, he signed a permanent two-year deal in April. By late autumn the same year, his side are being spoken of as genuine promotion candidates.

"I want that excitement for the club again and the fans, especially with last season in mind," Morrison said. "I welcome the expectation, we just have to try and tone it down in the best way. I think it might spur us on to keep performing like we do. We have set a standard we can't drop."

That phrase, "a standard we can't drop," carries real significance at a club whose supporters have endured a dispiriting run of seasons. The mood around the Hawthorns has shifted. Morrison says he wants fans "getting out of bed and being excited to come and watch West Brom again." That is press-release territory in lesser hands, but coming after a 3-1 win over fellow promotion rivals, it lands with a bit more weight.

The Preston reminder

Morrison was also keen to point to the 1-1 draw at Preston the previous Saturday as a useful corrective. Albion were widely expected to win at Deepdale; they did not. For Morrison, that outcome was instructive rather than damaging.

"The result at Preston highlights that," he said. "Everyone thought we'd turn up and win but it's not the case in this division. We can see how tough it is. I'm trying to drum it home to the lads that we need to keep working and let the fans be happy and have that belief and that excitement."

The Championship has a habit of humbling anyone who relaxes. A single dropped home point here, an away collapse there, and the picture changes entirely. Morrison appears acutely aware of that.

Where Albion stand

Fourth place puts Albion in the play-off positions at this stage, but the gap to the automatic two is narrow enough to make the next block of fixtures genuinely significant. West Ham, sitting two points below them after a difficult run of home results, will want a swift response. Both sides remain firmly in the mix.

For Morrison, the task now is sustaining Saturday's level. "That performance has been coming," he said. "I've been waiting for it." Whether the wait for automatic promotion will be similarly rewarded remains to be seen, but the evidence from the London Stadium suggests Albion have the tools to stay in the argument for some time yet.

Frequently asked

Where are West Brom in the Championship table?
Following their 3-1 win at West Ham, West Brom are fourth in the Championship, two points above the Hammers and two points outside the automatic promotion places.
How did James Morrison become West Brom manager?
Morrison was placed in interim charge in February after a turbulent season that had left Albion in danger of relegation to League One. He steadied the club and signed a permanent two-year deal in April.
What is West Brom's away record in the Championship this season?
According to post-match figures, Albion have taken 13 points from seven away games in the Championship this season.