Records there to be broken - James Morrison ahead of West Brom's Derby clash

James Morrison wants his Albion players to grasp the opportunity to banish the Derby County hoodoo on Wednesday night.

Derby have been a bogey club of the Baggies for more than a century when it comes to league form on the road.

A Rob Hulse-inspired 1-0 Pride Park victory in August 2003 remains Albion’s only league win at the home of the Rams since 1919. The clubs have regularly locked horns for many of the seasons since.

Morrison is aware of the barren centuries at Pride Park and the Baseball Ground before that - and believes his troops should be inspired to change such a narrative.

"2003, wasn't it?" Morrison immediately recalled the last Baggies away win in Derby.

"My thoughts are that they (records) are there to be broken, aren't they?

"It's our job, to go to break that.”

There has been slightly better fortune in cup competition away to Derby over the years. Cyrille Regis netted twice in a famous 3-2 FA Cup fifth round win in 1978.

Albion’s first trip to Pride Park in the League Cup in 2000 ended in a 2-1 victory, with a Richard Sneekes winner, but the Baggies later lost on aggregate.

"It's an opportunity, then - go and break it,” added Albion’s boss. "They could be a little cue after the game for the players - 'look what we've done'.

"But it's a tough place to go, like anywhere in the Championship is. Our away form is something we need to improve.

"And that is staying in games and giving ourselves the best opportunity."

Albion’s only win against Derby in any of the last 13 meetings was a 2-0 Championship victory in the behind-closed-doors finish to the 2019/20 promotion campaign.

Morrison’s visitors remain without injured winger Mikey Johnston (ankle) for the Pride Park encounter.