Eric Ramsay insists he and his squad are “laser-focused” on executing a high-level performance at Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon (ko 3pm).
The Baggies travel down to Fratton Park this weekend to take on the side sat one place and two points behind them in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Both Albion and Pompey will be determined to drive themselves up the division and away from the bottom three, and the boss is keen for everyone within the first-team group to see each contest as an opportunity to “move forward”.
Eric said: “The space to work properly is really advantageous for every coach. It’s what’s required to get a real feel for the group and up until this point we’ve had recovery sessions or match preparation sessions.
“That first week went by as a blur for everyone, but this week we’ve had a chance to work on the training pitches, reset and take stock of things that have been good and challenging. We want to create a sense of self-assurance as a team. We’ll be better as a result of that, I’m sure of it.
“Saturday’s game at Portsmouth is no different to how every game between now and the end of the season will feel. It’s really important that we pitch every single game as a real opportunity, as opposed to getting drawn into any talk about the implication for the table or the consequences of certain results.
“I think that’s a really unhelpful way to spend time thinking about things as a coach, but also as a group of players. We’re trying to see all of the days we have as opportunities to move forward and every game is an opportunity to climb the table.
“I feel like on the back of the performance at Derby, we’ve got a solid base to work from. I’ve enjoyed the working week and I can only feel optimistic moving into Saturday’s game.
“It’s obviously an important game, but every game between now and the end of the season is important. If we were to get a really positive result there this weekend, that doesn’t mean all the tension will be stripped away.
“Every game will have the same feel such is the situation and such is the nature of the league. We’ve got to make sure we are laser-focused on what is required for this particular game and we do everything in our power to execute a really high level of performance.”
The Baggies will be buoyed by the arrival of right-wing-back Danny Imray who joined on loan until the end of the season from Crystal Palace on Friday.
Ramsay says he’s “excited” at the prospect of working with the 22-year-old and believes he has all the ingredients to hit the ground running.
The head coach added: “Danny Imray will help with the balance and is a specialist on that right side. Crucially, he’s on an upwards trajectory. If you look at his career path, it’s really interesting.
“His type of journey is always one I’m drawn to, the ones where players come from a level of obscurity to an extent and then go to a big club and cope well in the development space, before going on loan and doing really well. He did well in League Two and League One. He’s coped with every step up that’s been put in front of him and that’s a really exciting set of ingredients to work with.
“He trained this morning and he’s a very confident lad. He’s taken steps quickly so far in his career and he’s done well everywhere he’s gone. He’s desperate to come here and prove a point.
“He can play right-back in a four or at right-wing-back. He’s someone that’s very suited to playing there and he’s spent the last few weeks at Crystal Palace who play in a very similar way to the way that we play, so I’m sure a lot of the messages that he’s heard today and over the coming days won’t be unfamiliar to him. That’s really important at this stage of the season.
“From an athletic perspective, he suits that profile and that position really well.”
Albion will be without Karlan Grant and Krystian Bielik for the battle with Pompey. Grant has been ruled out for up to three months with a hamstring injury, while Bielik is expected to miss “three to four weeks” as a result of a shoulder issue.
Eric said: “It’s been a tricky week in terms of injuries and fitness on the back of the Derby game. We’ve lost Karlan Grant and that’s a blow.
“Krystian Bielik has a shoulder injury and that amounts to a picture that we wouldn’t have wanted, but it’s one of those things that we’ll have to deal with.
“At the moment, we’re working towards being without him for around three to four weeks.
“He’s a good character, but we’ve also got others in the group that can step up in that sense. I will always focus on what we’ve got and who’s available and how we can solve the problems that arise.
“You’re going to encounter problems. I never thought I’d come in and find myself in a position where we had a clean bill of health all the way through and I know there will be problems to solve.”
