Eric Ramsay issues 'respect' call to West Brom players with fan role key in fight for Championship survival

Players were subjected to chants of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt'.

After responding against Derby with a last gasp equaliser - they turned out an awful performance against Portsmouth with players and Ramsay himself then coming under fire from the travelling Albion fans.

But they rallied on Saturday and got behind the side - and the players responded with a battling display against the Potters.

On another day it could well have been all three points with Albion going close with a couple of first half chances.

But it was the performance rather than the result that pleased the Albion fans - who saw some kind of response from the struggling Baggies.

Ramsay has repeatedly explained how important it is for Albion's players to build a connection with the supporters in a bid to aid their fight for survival.

The Baggies chief believes the response of the supporters went a long way on Saturday - and has urged his players to keep earning their connection with the fans, when they travel to Birmingham City on Tuesday night.

He said: "Yes - and it was crucial for the result.

"It will be crucial for results as we move forward. It'll be crucial home. It'll be crucial away.

"I've said previously, we've got to earn that. We've really got to earn that connection with the crowd. And we went a long way, I think, to doing that.

"I would also say I think in the space of two very difficult days, Norwich and Portsmouth, we followed them up well with Derby, a performance in difficult circumstances and here, a performance in difficult circumstances with a lot of pressure surrounding it.

"So I think that's something that we can, everyone can pat themselves on the back for, because they're tough weeks after those games."