Fit-again midfielder ready for home straight
JAMES Morrison has urged his team-mates to fight for every available point in their final seven fixtures – beginning with Arsenal’s visit to The Hawthorns on Saturday (ko 3pm).
The Baggies could record their 14th victory of the term at the weekend - bettering last season’s 13 wins – to achieve their highest top-flight return since Johnny Giles’ side picked up 16 triumphs during the 42-game 1984/85 campaign.
And 'Mozza' believes his fellow players will strive to improve on previous performances - to ensure this year is seen as a resounding success.
“We’ve got to take these seven games very seriously because if we don’t and fade people will say we’ve stopped trying,” said the 26-year-old Scotland international.
“People could even say we’ve had a poor season if we don’t finish it in a positive manner, but as a group we know we are not going to let that happen.
“The whole squad and management have been trying to get that across.
“We need to keep kicking on and do better than we did last year.”
The former Middlesbrough midfielder played a key role in Albion’s memorable 3-2 win at the Emirates two seasons ago and he believes the Baggies’ current home form could help secure their first win over the Gunners at The Hawthorns in nearly eight years.
“At the time when we won at the Emirates, in our first season back up, we were riding high,” Morrison added.
“It was a great performance all around and it’s one we’ve been trying to emulate against them for quite a while now.
“But we’ve done well against other top teams like Liverpool and Chelsea since then so that shows we are capable of beating some very good sides.
“We’ve struggled against Arsenal since we won at their place but I think at home, with our current form, we are confident against anyone.
“We played really well against them at home last season but it wasn’t to be.
“Unfortunately, there were a couple of errors - and that happens in football.
“We’ve got to try to forget about the disappointment of last season and instead look forward to Saturday.
“We had poor form at home last year and that’s probably one of the main reasons we are doing so well at home now.
“Sometimes, you feel comfortable at home and other times you feel more comfortable going away.
“I just think our home support has been key as well this season.
“If your fans are going into the game confident then you know you can perform and you give everything you have to try to win.”
Morrison is confident he will have recovered from a hamstring injury in time to face the Gunners.
His return would be a massive boost as fellow midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu begins a three-game suspension for his dismissal at West Ham last Saturday.
“I’m good," he added.
“I trained on Wednesday for the first time with the lads and I was fine so I’m ready to be in the squad on Saturday.
“I think it’s well documented that we miss Youssouf when he doesn’t play.
“Youssouf knows he made a mistake and it has cost him.
“I will just try to come back and play the way I have in the past.
“It’s just nice to be back.”