Lewis Cox's West Brom analysis: FA Cup exit and more away misery tests wrath of Baggies faithful - changes must be worthwhile

It was a bold yet partly understandable move for Saturday's fourth round defeat at Norwich, where the hosts saw off their much-changed visitors 3-1 with a late flurry.

This was a much-changed and almost unrecognisable Albion side.

At parts it played like it. The Baggies were very much second-best in a first half that saw them 1-0 down. The tie came in the balance as Josh Maja equalised for an improved visiting side midway through the second half.

But the in-form hosts - seemingly almost safe from relegation fears under the inspiration of November appointment Philippe Clement - grew stronger and had two late goals to show for it to seal a place in the fifth round.

Ramsay's line-up, consisting of nine changes, was bold but not wholly surprising.

The head coach and club simply have to focus on the bigger picture. That is unfortunate for lovers of the FA Cup, of which the Baggies are proud five-time winners.

It is not necessarily a slight on the competition, which often brings change, but more the dreadful and desperately perilous league position Albion find themselves in.

The tie was far from one-way traffic and Ramsay's side gave a relatively decent account of themselves given the hosts, who made six changes, named a stronger side.

With 20 minutes to go the Carrow Road clash was in the balance. It was a far closer and more competitive contest than the humiliating and historic 5-0 drubbing handed out by the Canaries at The Hawthorns 25 days previous.

Ramsay's comments of relative satisfaction and positivity unsurprisingly drew the ire of some of the Baggies faithful afterwards.

The 34-year-old, now seven games without a win in an utterly disastrous start to his tenure, explained once again that he had to focus on the 'longer term' - that being the Championship survival dogfight. He said as much on Friday in his pre-match press conference.

Albion started the day with three youngsters in their attack aged 18, 19 and 20 - they had one senior start between them, some 18 months ago.

Academy graduates Ollie Bostock and Harry Whitwell were two of their side's brighter performers and showed they can cut it. Hindolo Mustapha, the Crystal Palace loanee, was a threat before his half-time withdrawal.

Only Charlie Taylor, a left-back playing out of position in the centre, and new loan right-back Danny Imray kept their place from the encouraging goalless draw in Birmingham last Tuesday.

Taylor has endured a tortuous campaign and Imray has looked like a fish out of water in his few short weeks. Alfie Gilchrist, a right-back, filled in at left-back. It really was a makeshift and improvised selection.

Ramsay's claims of satisfaction as Krystian Bielik and Mikey Johnston, important players recovering from injury, got through much of the tie did not wash with some fans.

The head coach also claimed it was "helpful" to get more exposure into players like Taylor, Ousmane Diakite and Maja for the games ahead, if required.

Important regulars players, the likes of Alex Mowatt and Jayson Molumby, were substitutes. Callum Styles and Jed Wallace did not travel while Nat Phillips (concussion) joined the absentee list.

To a point Ramsay's hand was forced given the Championship perils.

The issue with his approach - aside from the obvious of going seven games without a victory - is he must back the reasoning up with that first win in the key games ahead.

A three-game week from this weekend, beginning against Coventry before clashes with lowly rivals Charlton and Oxford, must go down as one of the most significant weeks in recent Albion history.

Ramsay is seven without a win and despite the previous successive goalless draws against Stoke and Blues, which brought encouragement at small steps of progress, fans are understandably losing patience.

Momentum, or maybe more so faint positivity, from those back-to-back draws took a backwards step after the Carrow Road defeat.

Former Minnesota boss Ramsay simply must deliver from the Coventry clash.

It is surely the case that the former Chelsea and Manchester United coach must deliver at least one victory from the aforementioned trio.

It would be inconceivable he remains winless in 10 games and Albion would almost certainly be in the Championship drop zone as we enter spring. It could force Bilkul and notably chairman Shilen Patel to act again in the desperate hunt for survival.

There has to be optimism taken from the recent draws and stability the Baggies look to have found.

But there comes a point where games have to be won, as rivals claim victories.

A weakened side for an FA Cup tie is not uncommon, but as Ramsay tests the wrath of the Albion faithful, he must finally show he can deliver wins needed to avoid the unthinkable.