The Verdict: Scintillating second half and signs of stirring West Brom

There is no denying it any longer - there is something stirring at The Hawthorns.

There is positivity coursing through the club. Led by head coach James Morrison who, soon to be entering his 20th year as a Baggie, not only staved off League One last season but is looking to lead an immediate Premier League charge.

The squad is growing by the week. With each positive performance and result another layer of confidence and belief is developing within the group.

The supporters, so starved of anything approaching cheerful for so long, are craving and relishing the journey as Albion’s class of 2026/27 continues to blossom into something special.

Fifth, just a single point off top, after 15 games and three months of the season is a remarkable effort.

Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Millwall at The Hawthorns came courtesy of a scintillating second half with three marvellous unanswered goals.

Morrison and his troops clearly did not read the script. At 0-0, after a fairly tame first period, talk among the press box was of a fifth consecutive goalless draw between the Baggies and the Lions at The Hawthorns breaking a new English football record.

That particular statistic is safe in the annals for now as the vibrant home side thrilled a euphoric fanbase. There is a bond growing between the likeable group of players and supporters willing on something special.

Last week was sizeable challenge.

A run of West Ham away, Southampton and Millwall at home in eight days to finish a block of fixtures before an international break is a fairly daunting prospect.

Granted, Morrison’s men got soon-to-be-sacked West Ham boss Nuno’s side at a good time - but that performance at the London Stadium was still all about the Baggies.

Spells in midweek against a very impressive Saints side - notably the first half - were as well as Albion have played all season. Southampton were swarmed and the Baggies deserved to put the clash to bed.

Going again on Saturday against a wounded Millwall, put to the sword embarrassingly early by high-flying Birmingham in midweek, would be no small task.

Alex Neil’s visitors predictably made the first half tough for their hosts. Referee Thomas Bramall did little to help the game flow and each break in play saw time eaten up.

The Lions, not on a good run of form, were a threat from balls into the box, though the Baggies stood firm by and large.

Albion’s problem was in the final third where things were jittery with and at times disjointed with and without the ball. For once Morrison’s men were not on the same wavelength.

The boss revealed afterwards a systematic issue was identified in attack at half-time and the hosts wasted little time in making it count after the restart.

An all-round team performance cut a swath through Millwall in the second period - but the victory owed plenty to talismanic Albion attacker Isaac Price.

His opener six minutes into the second half was just the moment of magic such a stagnant stalemate required.

Another hugely impressive performer, Jayson Molumby, picked out Price with a smart pass but the latter did the rest from the centre circle, with a dart forward towards the edge of the Millwall ‘D’ and a wonderful finish into the bottom right corner. It was inch-perfect.

Albion had to wait another 30 minutes or so for the second goal to clinch the points, tucked home by Molumby who could barely miss from two yards.

But rarely, if at ever, did Morrison’s men really feel threatened even at 1-0.

That is credit to a well-oiled machine and a side fighting tooth and nail for each other.

Morrison went to such extremes afterwards to reveal his players are among the top three runners - in terms of total distance covered - in the Championship. He claimed this side ‘work much harder’ than the title-winning outfit he played in under Tony Mowbray in 2007/08.

Credit, too, to defender Nat Phillips, back in the side for the injured George Campbell he barely put a foot wrong in a resilient Baggies backline.

Goals two and three, from Molumby and excellent substitute Felix Horn Myhre, owed much to fellow sub Kareem Tunde.

The Spanish winger has not showed much since his late-summer move from Levante. In this lively cameo a few days after injury he appears to have arrived.

Morrison is not blessed with a deep squad - so every member of the side carries significance with Campbell, Toby Collyer and Mikey Johnston sidelined through injury, though all three are hoped to be back before long.

Albion’s turnaround since successive defeats either side of the last international break has been remarkable.

Morrison admitted on Friday he was feeling the heat heading to Wrexham last month, as a third straight defeat loomed.

His side have been near-flawless ever since and the feeling of excitement grows as a honest, likeable, hard-working and gifted side continues to develop in front of our eyes.

Happy times indeed to be a Baggie.