The West Brom star has become a different beast under Morrison

When West Bromwich Albion lost 2-1 against relegated Championship rivals Oxford United at the start of James Morrison’s interim tenure, the Baggies looked set for relegation.

Since then, however, Morrison has led a nine-game unbeaten run, with a 3-0 win over Watford on Tuesday night, which means the West Midlands side are eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Despite the disastrous points deduction, West Brom now look safe in the relegation zone, while Oxford cling to five points in 22nd place, despite getting the better of Morrison and Co.

The veteran player has a real shout for the big manager gig, should he want it, with Daryl Dike finally getting his shooting boots, once again, under the 39-year-old’s revolutionary regime.

Dike’s conversion under Morrison

The American striker is best known at this time for being an injury problem at the Hawthorns, with an incredible 128 games missed through injury in his last five seasons at the club.

With these injury problems plaguing his goal-scoring form, and, with no goals this season under the poor reigns of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, a summer exit looks inevitable.

Now, he has taken a breather from his Baggies days, with the former Orlando City striker netting West Brom’s second against the Hornets.

And scoring in West Brom’s comfortable 2-0 away win at Preston North End, there seems to be a fire burning in the 25-year-old’s belly, with everything pointing to his exit from the Championship at the end of the campaign.

It’s a testament to how far Morrison is coming out of his camp now, with players who looked battered and bruised in the pits of relegation now resurgent under his new management.

Dike is far from the only animal completely transformed by the interim coach, though…

The West Brom star has enjoyed a better revival than Dike

While Dike’s changes are clearly impressive, West Brom’s defense needed a lot of work when Morrison was handed the reins behind Ramsay.

Since Ramsay’s disastrous nine games in charge, the Baggies have been rewarded with entertaining goals, with 18 strikes handed to him without a win, as Danny Imray looks completely out of contention in the Championship.

Although Dike has been plagued by injury after injury, he has excelled in the second division before, laying aside nine goals.

In Imray’s case, a loan spell at West Brom – away from parent club Crystal Palace – was his first taste of the chaos of the EFL’s elite league, and it was a humbling learning curve.

Indeed, his senior debut in late January against Portsmouth saw the 22-year-old put on a poor display, completing just five passes, with three of his seven wins, as Pompey beat the West Midlands visitors 3-0.

Now, Imray is a completely different animal since his disappointing start for the Baggies in blue and white, with the rejuvenated number 30 not missing a single minute of action for Morrison’s men in the second division since coming off for 15 minutes against Oxford in February.

He was particularly impressive against Watford in midweek, as he sealed a 3-0 victory when he netted a double at home.

As well as grabbing his first West Brom goal, Imray would also collect an assist – where he previously struggled to finish the ball – when he found Isaac Price in the opener, won a ridiculous 13 tackles and duels in total, and completed three successful dribbles down the left.

While Dike’s impressive streak has been impressive, Imray has become a reborn man at West Brom, during his first season at the top level.

Both the Blackpool loanee and the American marquee will be hoping that first-team appearances continue, with more wins needing to be secured, to ensure West Brom do not fall victim to a bad draw, which could cost them a place in the second tier.

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