West Brom v Ipswich: Boss' view on overloading final third to help attacking stars shine

Boss James Morrison has opened up on how he targeted a transformation of Albion’s attacking unit with a clash against promotion-hunting Ipswich Town on the horizon.

The Baggies close the curtain on the season of the 125th anniversary at The Hawthorns with a contest against the Tractor Boys.

Morrison’s in-form side are aiming to ensure there is no doubting their Championship status despite what outcome may come of the independent commission hearing relating to a financial charge from the EFL.

Albion are eight points clear of the drop with two games left but cannot officially toast survival via Morrison’s nine-match unbeaten run due to the potential of a points penalty.

Key to the Baggies’ return of four wins and five draws has been more threat in the final third, with Morrison turning to 4-4-2 formation, with Daryl Dike and Josh Maja reinvigorated alongside Aune Heggebo and Isaac Price at his influence best in support.

“It was one area where I thought we needed to get better,” Morrison told the Express & Star.

“At the start it was all about trying to get one more player up at the top end of the pitch.

“Then we looked at the profiles of two centre-forwards and defenders really wouldn't want to play against those three. They give everyone a tough time.

“If I'm being picky, I thought Josh was a bit below his performance (on Tuesday), if I'm honest.

“But Daryl complemented him really well. I thought Daryl was good and he's a handful. I was really pleased that he got his goal.

“Pricey, with the hard work he puts in, for him now is the target to try and get to ten goals a season, because for any midfielder it's a good feat.”

Maja, Heggebo, Dike and Price have been in the goals under Morrison.

The head coach has generally opted for a front two of Heggebo, who has been first-choice all season, and Maja.

Dike was rewarded for a goalscoring cameo at Preston last weekend with a start against Watford in midweek and he repaid Morrison’s faith.

Price is up to nine Albion goals for the season, one behind Heggebo’s 10 in all competitions. Maja has reached six with three coming under Morrison and Dike’s two have come in the last two games.

Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich, meanwhile, head to The Hawthorns on the back of their 2-1 comeback victory at Charlton Athletic on Wednesday night.

The battle for the automatic promotion places has reached boiling point with Ipswich battling Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough for second place behind champions Coventry.

Familiar figures return to The Hawthorns in the form of a host of Ipswich players with Baggies links.

Right-back Darnell Furlong netted an equaliser at Charlton on Wednesday, where he lined up against ex-Albion academy graduate Dara O’Shea.

Former goalkeeper Alex Palmer was an unused substitute, with defender and former player of the season Cedric Kipre also on the bench in the familiar roster from Suffolk.

“We can enjoy Saturday,” Morrison added. “But I want to go and test ourselves against a top team.”

Albion’s availability is expected to remain the same with the only sidelined player with a chance of returning to contention before the end of the season captain Jed Wallace, who could feature at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday week.