The West Brom star is fast becoming more important than Maja to Morrison
At the end of a week in which West Bromwich Albion were told they could face points being stripped, they got the boost they needed on Saturday afternoon.
The Baggies are now five points clear of the relegation zone in the Championship after a comfortable 2-0 win at Preston North End this weekend.
Before James Morrison stepped in to help until the end of the season, the Baggies looked set to go down, with Eric Ramsay failing to win in his nine games in charge of the West Midlands.
However, now West Brom look like a completely different animal with the Hawthorns legend in temporary charge. Indeed, they are now unbeaten in their last eight games.
Josh Maja has also looked more confident in front of goal in recent times, as the deadly number nine continued his goalscoring form at Deepdale.
How Maja changed his Albion career
Maja is focused on scoring vital goals to ensure victory goes the Baggies’ way, with his 11th-minute opener at Lancashire a trademark finish at this point, the EFL’s most lethal striker.
Maja has had to endure this season, making only his 13th start against Paul Heckingbottom’s side in the entire Premier League campaign so far.
But, he made no mistake when Aune Heggebo cleverly played the ball into his path, as he scored the crucial opener.
The former Sunderland striker now has three goals in his last six Championship games for Morrison’s men, as Maja begins to show flashes of the class that saw him hit 12 league goals last season, despite injury holding him back.
Morrison will want his experienced marquee to continue to strike in a crucial way, as West Brom are not completely out of the woods when it comes to defeat.
There is another seasoned head in his ranks who is more important than Maja, though…
The West Brom star is more important than Maja
A number of Baggies players were to shine during the crucial win on the road at Deepdale, with Daryl Dike visibly upset as he fired West Brom’s second of the day.
Alex Mowatt also impressed in the middle of the park, as the 31-year-old led by example, as did his attacking partner, Maja.
|
Mowatt vs Preston |
|
|---|---|
|
Mathematics |
Mowatt |
|
Minutes played |
90 |
|
To touch |
65 |
|
Accurate passes |
39/46 (85%) |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Successful dribbles |
1/2 |
|
Ideas |
3 |
|
Erasure |
3 |
|
The discovery of the ball |
5 |
|
Total battles won |
1/2 |
|
Duels won |
7/10 |
Although goals are game-winners, West Brom will need to be mature and strong to continue picking up points, and the former Leeds United contender was just the same for the Lilywhites, with the 31-year-old winning seven duels in midfield. Surprisingly, Nat Philips, at the heart of the outfielders, would only win five in comparison.
And racking up two key assists, with a constant desire to push his team up the pitch, it’s arguable that Mowatt, when playing at these levels, is more important than Maja, as he can dictate plays and ensure West Brom stay cool in the top flight.
Having scored seven goals last season, it is also clear that if the ball falls to number 27 in the nail-biting battles, he will be strengthened by an important bullet.
At the moment, belief is at an all-time high at West Brom this season, after the form has been consistently low under Ramsay, with the likes of Maja and Mowatt dusted off to take on more duties in line with the club’s recent promotion challenges.
Morrison will need the reliable duo to continue to perform at their best, with the possibility of a points deficit still hanging over the process like a dark cloud, alongside some big games to follow, before the 46-game run officially wraps up.
West Brom points release: Both teams want one thing as the timeline unfolds
Albion have been charged for allegedly breaching the EFL’s P&S rules.
