Middlesbrough Edge West Brom In Dramatic Ramsay Debut

Under the Friday night lights at The Hawthorns, a new era for West Bromwich Albion began with a jolt of drama, spirit, and, ultimately, heartbreak. Eric Ramsay, making his managerial debut after a whirlwind week, watched his Baggies side fall 3-2 to high-flying Middlesbrough in a pulsating Championship encounter on January 16, 2026.

For Ramsay, the 34-year-old Welshman whose coaching journey has already spanned the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea U23s, Swansea City, and a record-breaking stint with Minnesota United in Major League Soccer, this was a baptism of fire. Taking the reins from Ryan Mason—recently dismissed after a string of ten away defeats—Ramsay was tasked with steadying a club languishing in 18th place, ten points off the playoff spots and just seven above the dreaded drop zone.

"In some senses, but I feel like it’s in a lot of senses a perfect start," Ramsay reflected before kickoff, embracing the challenge of facing second-placed Middlesbrough. "It’s a real challenge. It’s one that the players know full well that they will need to hit really high levels of performance if we’re going to be competitive in that game and all the messages so far have been around that. In a lot of senses it would be something I would handpick, a big club at home under the lights on a Friday night with a real sense of optimism and the players have a real point to prove."

Optimism was indeed in the air as the Baggies faithful welcomed their new head coach, but the visitors from Teesside arrived brimming with confidence, aiming to close the gap on Championship leaders Coventry to just three points. Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg admitted pre-match that the unpredictability of Ramsay’s approach was a headache: "We’re not sure how West Brom will set up under Ramsay given the short preparation time," Hellberg remarked, preparing his team based on both West Brom’s recent tactics and Ramsay’s work in Minnesota.

From the outset, Ramsay’s fingerprints were evident. The Baggies looked sharper, more organized, and played with a collective sense of purpose. The new boss had made it clear: "I want everyone to know exactly what’s required of them," he said. "The start point will be a high level of organisation, a clarity over how we are trying to control games with the ball and without it. I want the team to constantly look connected and I want there to be that level of expectation and consistency."

Still, the transition from philosophy to points is rarely seamless. Middlesbrough’s quality shone through, and while West Brom twice found the net, Boro edged the contest 3-2. For Ramsay, it was a tough introduction—yet there were signs of encouragement. The Baggies, so often listless in recent weeks, showed fight, and the crowd responded in kind.

Ramsay’s arrival has injected fresh energy into the club. "They’re exactly as I would have hoped. Really welcoming staff, staff that you can tell just care incredibly for the wellbeing of the club and are desperate to see the club do well," Ramsay said of his first impressions. "We’ve got a group of players that I’ve found so far and have been described to me as incredibly professional, desperate to improve and get better and in that sense I couldn’t have had a better first couple of days."

Support behind the scenes has been crucial. Ramsay’s trusted assistant Dennis Lawrence joined him in the dugout, while the likes of James Morrison, Damia Abella, Tony Strudwick, and especially goalkeeping coach Boaz Myhill have played key roles in smoothing the transition. "It is a tight-knit group of capable staff. Me and Lawrence have been welcomed by James Morrison, Damia (Abella), Myhill, Tony Strudwick, and we have got our finger on the pulse pretty quickly," Ramsay noted, emphasizing the strong culture at the club.

Yet challenges abound. Financial constraints may limit West Brom’s activity in the January transfer window, forcing Ramsay to work with the existing squad. The goalkeeping situation remains a hot topic among fans, with Josh Griffiths and Joe Wildsmith both under the microscope. Under previous boss Ryan Mason, Griffiths was dropped in favor of Wildsmith, a move that sparked debate. According to stats highlighted by Sofascore, Griffiths has played 19 games with -4.5 goals prevented, four clean sheets, and 44 saves, while Wildsmith has seven games, -3.1 goals prevented, one clean sheet, and nine saves. Myhill’s influence as goalkeeping coach will be pivotal as Ramsay seeks improvement between the sticks.

Despite these hurdles, Ramsay’s focus remains laser-sharp. "I genuinely am not thinking any further than Friday and the work that goes into making that a really competitive performance," he insisted. "I think one of my strengths as a coach is that relentless focus on the minute to minute and the day to day and how every morning needs to feel, how every touch point needs to feel with the players because I know that if you can get that right over the course of enough sessions and enough weeks of the season then what you want arrives with that."

His coaching pedigree suggests he’s up for the fight. Ramsay became the youngest British coach to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence in 2019 and has worked with some of the game’s most respected managers, including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. His time in the MLS, where he led Minnesota United to a record-breaking campaign, has given him a competitive edge and a hunger to prove himself in English football’s relentless second tier.

For Boro, the victory was another feather in their cap as they continue their pursuit of automatic promotion. The win narrows the gap to leaders Coventry and cements their status as one of the Championship’s most consistent sides. For West Brom, the defeat stings, but the performance offered hope that better days may be ahead under Ramsay’s stewardship.

"If we create clarity, demand, and consistency in our work, then we’ll get what we deserve," Ramsay said, outlining his vision. The coming weeks will be crucial as he seeks to translate his ideals into results, navigate a tricky transfer window, and lift a squad still reeling from a difficult first half of the season.

As the final whistle blew on a chilly January night, the sense around The Hawthorns was unmistakable: change is in motion. Ramsay’s debut may not have brought the dream result, but it did restore a measure of belief and set the stage for a fascinating chapter in West Brom’s storied history.