Jimmy-Jay Morgan added a fifth goal of the campaign to keep West Brom's promising start alive, delivering a 1-0 triumph at home against Watford in the English Championship. The 20‑year‑old, who arrived at The Hawthorns for a £1.3 million fee during the summer window, found the net in the 36th minute, marking his third league strike of the season and his inaugural goal for the club in a competitive match. His finish extended Albion's unbeaten run at home to ten games, underscoring the team's growing confidence on familiar turf. The contest unfolded as a tale of two distinct halves.
In the opening period, Morgan was denied twice, while Watford forward Aune Heggebo also saw two chances go begging. The second half saw Watford create two further opportunities, but neither materialised into a goal.
The visitors' away form has continued to deteriorate, as they have now failed to win in nine consecutive trips away from home, a slump that began in February. Early pressure came from Watford's midfield, with Othmane Maamma forcing West Brom goalkeeper Max O'Leary into a crucial block using his leg.
The sequence began when Hector Kyprianou dispossessed Ousmane Diakite, allowing Martin Payero to surge forward from deep and slip a ball to the Moroccan attacker on his right. In response, Albion's Morgan unleashed a low effort that was comfortably saved by Watford keeper Federico Ravaglia after a long pass from defender Chris Mepham.
At one point it appeared that Albion might have taken the lead earlier. In the 34th minute Morgan seemed to head the ball out of Ravaglia's grasp after a deflected cross from Nolan Galves, but the referee ruled the effort illegal for a foul, nullifying the potential goal and prompting a muted reaction from the crowd. The decision also resulted in a yellow card for Morgan, a sanction many observers felt was harsh. The deadlock was broken only two minutes later.
Morgan tapped in a precise finish from a cut‑back delivered by Harry Whitlow, who had surged into the box after Isaac Price's crossing attempt. The goal gave the home side the lead they had been chasing. Watford made a tactical substitution at halftime, bringing on Edo Kayembe for left‑back Jordan Zemura, who had suffered a knee injury. The visitors then pressed for an equaliser.
Spanish youngster Iker Bravo unleashed a first‑time shot that was blocked from a Luca Kjerrumgaard cross, and shortly after Martin Payero attempted a close‑range effort that sailed over the bar after Maamma headed down a deep delivery from Edoardo Bove at the far post. Whitlow continued to showcase his potential, drawing a booking for Kayembe after a robust challenge in the 63rd minute when Whitlow charged down the right flank. Watford's attempts persisted; Bravo managed only a weak glance at O'Leary from a promising centre by Keben, while Albion missed a chance to double their lead in the 71st minute. Whitlow executed a clever reverse pass that split the Watford defence, setting up Norway striker Aune Heggebo, whose shot was saved by Ravaglia, who then produced a corner.
Substitute Stephy Mavididi, introduced to add attacking impetus, missed a golden opportunity, blasting his effort over the bar after twisting past his marker on the angle. Near the final whistle, Albion appeared to be denied a penalty when Felix Horn Myhre seemed to be pushed over the ball by Keben. A chaotic melee followed, resulting in a booking for Bravo after he pushed substitute Jayson Molumby in the corner of the area. West Brom manager James Morrison praised Morgan's performance, noting the youngster's work rate and composure.
"I challenged him before the game – it was his third match in a week, so could he do it? You could see it in his pressing; it was a different side to him with the amount of blocks he made. I'm surprised really by how good he is.
It's credit to the recruitment team for finding him. It's really good work by them and it shows there are players out there. The question was 'could he step up?', and he answered brilliantly. He looks comfortable but we just need to keep on with his work rate.
He's proved he can do it. The challenge now is 'can he maintain that level?' I believe he can. He has that youthfulness, freshness and a little cockiness – those traits will take him far. He has swagger and I quite like it," Morrison said.
Watford boss Alessio Dionisi reflected on the result, acknowledging his side's effort but lamenting the lack of goals. "We deserved a draw but if you don't score, it's impossible to win. We showed the right mentality but the result was negative.
We played well but we know it's important for us to arrive in the box better to find a positive result. West Brom away is not easy but my team stayed competitive for 90 minutes," he commented. Injuries continue to plague Watford, leaving them without four full‑backs. This forced Albert Eames to make his full‑league debut at right‑back.
Midfielder Edo Kayembe was also deployed at left‑back after Zemura's injury, highlighting the squad's depth issues. Dionisi added, "It's not easy at the moment. But we knew this was the situation with eight games, including the Carabao Cup, until the international break." Overall, the match illustrated West Brom's growing resilience at home and the impact of a young striker stepping up when it mattered most.
Their unbeaten home streak now stands at ten matches, a testament to solid defensive organization and timely attacking contributions. For Watford, the defeat underscores the urgency of addressing defensive shortages and converting chances into goals if they hope to climb the Championship table as the season progresses.