But midfielder admits pressure is mounting and urges team-mates to cut out mistakes
JAMES Morrison is relishing the new lease of life he has been given under new boss Pepe Mel as he prepares for today’s home clash with high-flying Liverpool (ko 1.30pm).
He believes Albion can quickly get back on track in the Barclays Premier League if they cut out the mistakes that have seen them draw instead of wins games.
At the same stage last season the Baggies had lost as many games (nine) – but had recorded six more victories.
And Morrison insists it is now up to him and his 17th-placed team-mates to handle the pressure they have put themselves under.
“There's been a handful of games where we’ve drawn and we should have won - Chelsea and Stoke away for example,” said Morrison.
“We're not seeing games out. We're not using our heads and our experience.
“We have been here before. We have players in the squad that know what it's about.
“We have things on our side though and eight teams around us who are in the same boat.
“We have been letting in stupid goals and we are not seeing games out.
“If we'd won games like Chelsea and Stoke we wouldn't be looking over our shoulder.
“Ten draws is too many.
“I think that’s where the league is.
“Apart from the top six, everyone is equal to each other.
“The teams that have come up have spent money to get up to the level where the other teams are in the league.
“Not seeing out wins and teams being level is probably why we’re where we are.
“We have massive pressure on us now going into games after losing on Wednesday.
“The crowd get edgy, players get edgy, you don't think straight and that is the biggest problem down at the bottom.”
The Scotland midfielder is also choosing to focus on the positives from the 4-3 derby reverse at Villa.
“I said to the lads, I don’t think Villa, apart from the Benteke chance, carved us open really in the second half,” he added.
“To say it is expansive football we’re playing is not right, it is just pressing, we are going forward and I think it is better for the team and the people watching, rather than just waiting for something to happen and then we do something.
“You see from last season when I am going forward and not worried about defending that is when I do my best work.
“I think we just keep doing what we are doing and cut out the mistakes.”
Morrison is also eager to show the Reds Albion are no pushovers following a Luis Suarez hat-trick-inspired 4-1 defeat at Anfield in October.
“I don’t think they will be taken by surprise in terms of a change of style, I just think they will know they are in for a fight,” he said.
“Our players will want to put that derby defeat behind us and there is no better way to do it than against Liverpool.
“I think we owe them one after scoring four and wiping the floor with us really.”