The Verdict: West Brom show the other side to prove the mettle and heart is there

Even the best teams in the world, constructed with hundreds of millions of pounds, are unable to deliver their best stuff week in, week out.

That is why Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Watford satisfied Albion boss James Morrison as much as anything he has seen so far early in this exciting campaign.

It was not one that will stand out in any highlights reel come the end of the season or remembered as a thrilling, swashbuckling encounter.

But in scrapping out a first clean sheet in seven games in all competitions this season, Morrison’s side proved they have the heart, desire and spirit for success.

Seldom in the trenches of the Championship, or indeed any division, do successful teams achieve on style alone.

They require substance - a backbone, resilience. They need to show they are capable of riding out and surviving adversity.

Charlton showed stacks of the above to earn a point in last Wednesday’s frustration at The Hawthorns as Morrison’s stylish hosts flattered to deceive.

This time against a limited but encouraged Hornets, Albion battled on until the death and showed spirit in spades to claim a third win in five Championship games.

It was a mixed bag from Morrison’s men. Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s 36th-minute close-range winner, tapped in after a lovely flowing team move, proved the difference.

Academy graduate Harry Whitwell, deservedly back in the side, and Isaac Price made the goal. The former started the move and delivered a fine assist on another standout afternoon in his breakthrough campaign.

It was a deserved half-time lead, but the Hornets - short on defensive bodies due to an injury crisis - were encouraged by some Baggies sloppiness and hesitancy after the break and felt an equaliser was there to grasp.

Albion were not hesitant at the back, however, and defended manfully when they had to.

Sloppiness could on another day easily have been punished, but Watford were blunt and wasteful at times and let the hosts off the hook.

On the other hand, there was some extremely impressive defending from Albion’s backline, in particular Chris Mepham and Nolan Galves, to keep the visitors at bay.

Galves continues to improve at right-back after a slightly shaky start. He is showing impressive progress given life in a new country and division.

Given the new language, and slightly deeper position, there is encouragement to be had.

There were other occasions where Ousmane Diakite and George Campbell, at times guilty of slack possession, made big blocks.

Albion were most typified by substitute Jayson Molumby, who did what he does best with fight, intensity and desire in stoppage time.

He appeared to be on the end of a sneaky blow from Watford’s Iker Bravo near the corner flag. The Irishman is not the man to rile and was fired up by the coming together and, moments later, Edoardo Bove tried to clatter into Molumby but injured himself and the Baggies man broke into wild celebration in front of a raucous Smethwick End.

It was a classic Molumby moment of passion and personality but underlined the heart and fight that went into the Albion display.

The afternoon was particularly pleasing for Morrison as he shuffled his pack and the changes worked well.

The Baggies, with 24 hours less rest than their visitors, made four changes. A couple of them predictable as Whitwell returned and fit-again and free of suspension Aune Heggebo made a comeback - and with him came a 4-4-2 with Heggebo alongside Morgan.

Also in the side was Rabby Nzingoula, rewarded for his very bright Baggies start, and surprisingly Chris Mepham at centre-back. The Wales international had not started a league game since February.

Nzingoula was lively in spells but Morrison admitted the midfield balance between him and Diakite was off. Mepham, meanwhile, excelled and showed why he is so respected by the head coach.

The experienced Mepham was instrumental in a first clean sheet of the season and has given the head coach food for thought over who starts at Derby County on Wednesday as the Baggies look to banish their Rams hoodoo.

Morrison was able to turn to the bench late on for the likes of Molumby, Nat Phillips and Felix Horn Myhre, all of whom played roles in seeing out the victory with a level of professionalism.

Availability is fairly strong at the moment - Mikey Johnston aside - and that is a big plus given the schedule. Slowly but surely, Albion have generated a squad with some decent options and depth.

Harder tests are ahead than Watford at The Hawthorns, but so too are more fluent and devastating attacking displays by this exciting class of 2026/27.

That the Baggies have shown the other side of their game could be a critical step in any success for the season ahead.

Success is relative, of course, and most supporters would agree a season of stability would be a job well done.

But to push on and make more of the campaign there has to be resilience and spirit to go with the style and swagger. Here, Albion showed they may be able to deliver both.