West Brom debrief: Attacking blow but Bostock breakthrough, time for youth and where next?

Johnston blow

The state of the performance speaks for itself and is the most alarming element. Albion desperately lacked quality and ideas all over the pitch after falling behind on 15 minutes.

For five or 10 minutes Morrison's men were bright and winger Mikey Johnston was at the heart of it. In spells against Charlton and for 10 minutes in Oxford he showed signs of being near his direct best.

But an innocuous challenge saw the winger, who has struggled with a knock of late, get his studs caught in the turf and succumb to what is feared could be a serious injury. Johnston looked in real pain.

He has not been at his best for some time but interim Morrison underlined the blow of losing the squad's biggest threat. It is not something that bodes well for the 11-game dogfight ahead to save Albion's skin.

Bostock takes chance

The only highlight from the Kassam was how Johnston's replacement Ollie Bostock took his chance.

Academy winger Bostock, only recently 19, netted a first senior goal with what proved to be the consolation. It owed to some good fortune with the deflection, but if you do not buy the ticket you do not win the raffle.

The highly-rated Bostock has shown enough at this stage to prove he can be relied upon. When others have failed, he has delivered enough example of his talent in otherwise dour games at Millwall and Swansea in the FA Cup. He underlined it here.

It was not just the goal. A couple of other wonderful crosses, not attacked by colleagues, were the best bits of quality on display from the visitors all day.

Oxford could be Bostock's 'Tom Fellows at Birmingham' moment. It would be bold enough to have him in from the off at Sheffield United on Saturday. But, and certainly with Johnston's absence, he deserves it.

So play the kids?

This is a subject I have skirted around a little bit, mostly because I felt it would not be fair on Bostock, Harry Whitwell, Alex Williams and others to chuck them into this melting pot and seemingly sinking ship.

There has also been the case under Ryan Mason and more recently Eric Ramsay that head coaches will not have the trust or time to turn to youth. It would be a very brave boss to put your faith in the hands of youngsters who have never played senior football when jobs are on the line.

We are at a juncture now where Albion need something, anything, and the senior squad have not delivered for many months.

Bostock showed a fearlessness of youth that could be further tapped into. I am not saying they should all start at Bramall Lane but all of the above deserve a chance before the season's end, relegation on the line or not. They could be the future.

It is the case for goalkeeper Josh Griffiths too. Dropped because he was not deemed good enough. It feels there is more value and use using him over Max O'Leary.

Where on earth next?

The powers that be led by Shilen Patel have a huge call when it comes to their next move in this desperate dogfight.

Word was that caretaker Morrison had a chance to stake his claim for the run-in, but it was not the outcome anybody desired.

Morrison will plod on as committed as anybody in this caretaker role but the likelihood is surely that the club's decision-makers have to scour the land to see who is out there?

There begs the question which boss worth his salt would want to put his name to this - potentially only the second time Albion have dropped to the third tier in 148 years.

There will be those that fancy it - all managers have to back themselves - but are they suited to a late-season Championship scrap, or experienced enough?

There is much to consider.