James Morrison says a “collective effort” from the players, the staff and the supporters helped Albion secure a hard-fought victory over Watford on Saturday afternoon.
JJ Morgan scored the only goal of what was a fiery Sky Bet Championship encounter at The Hawthorns, slotting home towards the end of the first period following good work from Harry Whitwell on the left side of the box.
The hosts had to dig deep to see the game out, with James Morrison’s men making a number of blocks, tackles and clearances in their penalty area and battling for every ball across the pitch.
The boss says recording triumphs in the way they did today is as “rewarding” to him as winning handsomely and playing eye-catching football.
Morrison said: “It was so important to bounce back from the little knock that we had in the week with a victory here today.
“We know it wasn’t the prettiest, but there were so many signs of a team which fights for each other. I’ve also been asking for a clean sheet and, in the end, we had to put bodies on the line to secure it.
“Credit to Watford because they came here and they gave us problems, but, I think we caused our own problems in the first half by giving the ball away too often. We knew what type of test we’d have today and what type of team they are with their transitions.
“There were spells where we looked really bright and we changed it up with a few players, trying to inject that energy. I want to use the squad and I don’t want the squad to be imbalanced. When players are called on, I want them to be ready.
“I’m pleased on that front that we got different players on the pitch, that we managed to get ourselves a clean sheet and a victory.
“I thought it was an even game. They had some big chances too. On Wednesday, we probably deserved to win the game and only ended up getting a point. We fought for our win today in a game which was in the balance.
“That sums this division up. It’s our third game in the week and there may well have been tired bodies and minds. This division tests you in both ways, so I was really pleased to see a mentally strong team out there today – one which stood strong and saw the game out.
“I felt in previous games that that fight and grit and determination may not have been there and I was being asked questions about seeing games out. We answered those questions today. We can do it.
“We have new players who need to bed in and that’ll take time, but they’re all working hard. I was thinking about changing the wide players in the game, but they were working so hard defensively and Watford didn’t really create a big chance in the second half. Their second-half chances came mostly from set-piece scenarios.
“Structurally and defensively, we fought for each other. You could see all the lads protecting themselves and their team-mates at the end.
“Our fans played their part. It really was a collective effort. They could see in the closing stages that the team needed help and they gave them that. They helped us over the line. Those victories sometimes are as rewarding as the total football ones. I sound like an old-fashioned manager, saying I love those 1-0 victories.”
