Morrison faces Mowbray test as Baggies host Blackburn

'Mozza' and 'Mogga' - After becoming one of Tony Mowbray's first signings as West Bromwich Albion boss in the summer of 2007, James Morrison became part of his backroom team when Mowbray briefly returned as Baggies boss in January 2025 [Adam Fradgley - Getty Images] West Bromwich Albion boss James Morrison has very much enjoyed the vast majority of his short managerial career. Since taking over in February , Albion have lost just six of Morrison's 24 games in charge, they sit sixth in the Championship and are once again looking onwards and upwards as a club, realistically aiming once more at the Premier League rather than fearing relegation . But this Saturday perhaps throws up arguably Morrison's biggest test yet. This is only Albion's sixth home game of the season, they have only won two of them - and this time they play a Blackburn Rovers side just a point worse off in the table and, most pertinently of all, managed by Morrison's old Baggies boss and mentor Tony Mowbray. Having first brought Morrison to the club when Mowbray signed him from their shared native town of Middlesbrough in 2007, it is a bond that runs deep. Morrison, 40, made the first 78 of his 341 Albion appearances under Mowbray, then later became part of his coaching team when the 62-year-old former Hibs, Celtic, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Birmingham City boss returned to The Hawthorns in January 2025 . "It will be good to compete with him," Morrison told BBC Radio WM. "And I hope he gets the reception he deserves. "With our connections to Middlesbrough, he knew the same people and that's how it all came about. And it's still always a pleasure to be in his company. I still look up to him as my gaffer. "We had one of the best seasons for the club getting promoted and getting to an FA Cup semi-final. "It's important to remember the good times with Tony, but we still need the three points. "They've got a bit of an underdog status - and he's outperforming where everyone thought they would be. But we're looking to back up a victory, which is very important in this division." 'I don't hold any negative thoughts' Mowbray will return to The Hawthorns with no ill will towards the Albion board who sacked him in April 2025 - just three months after bringing back the club's 2008-9 promotion-winning manager. "Albion are a wonderful club with an amazing support base and a perception to be a Premier League club rather than a Championship club," Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I signed James Morrison in that time. He is a very bright guy and is now doing exceptionally well as a manager. "I went back to try and help them become a Premier League club again but football has changed massively since I first went there in 2006 and the ownership model was very different. "But I don't hold any negative thoughts about them. "I'm looking forward to pitting my wits with James. And hopefully he has a bad day on Saturday," said Mowbray with a smile. "But I then hope he carries on doing well after that." Heggebo far happier with latest West Brom away winner West Brom fight back to win at Wrexham Having first taken over from Mowbray as caretaker boss in April 2025, Morrison was overlooked when the club then brought in an outsider in Ryan Mason. When that failed, Morrison again took caretaker control in January 2026 before the appointment of American Eric Ramsay. When that was terminated after nine winless matches in February, the Baggies board finally realised the right man was right under their noses and handed Morrison the reins. Latest West Bromwich Albion news, analysis and fan views