Captain Wallace setting the standard for Albion
West Bromwich Albion fan writer Chris Hall says captain Jed Wallace is epitomising the character and standards demanded by head coach James Morrison.
Jed Wallace joined West Bromwich Albion from Millwall in June 2022 [Getty Images] [BBC] Albion's defeat by Oxford United on 28 February could well end up being one of the most important days in their season. At the time, most thought it would be the day that signalled the beginning of the end for the Baggies' Championship survival hopes. However, it appears that day might have been used as a line in the sand.
James Morrison said after the game: "When it gets tough, we don't get going. " That comment seems to have landed with many in the squad because "get going" is exactly what they have done since. Albion are now four unbeaten since that dismal day (two draws and two wins), and ended a wait for an away win that stretched back to 1 October when they defeated Bristol City on Saturday.
It has been a remarkable revival for which head coach Morrison has been rightly credited. But, while his leadership off the field has been integral, his captain's has been equally important on it. Jed Wallace missed 16 league games through injury between late October and early January.
Albion lost a whopping 10 of those 16 games, yet few put the Baggies' poor form down to the absence of their skipper. He returned with a bang after Ryan Mason was dismissed, scoring in the FA Cup for then interim boss Morrison before claiming a goal and an assist in Eric Ramsay's first game in charge. Despite that impact, Ramsay only used Wallace sparingly across his eight league games with the Throstles' skipper averaging 41 minutes per match under the Welshman.