Ryan Mason highlights 'penalty box' battle victory as West Brom continue unbeaten run under new head coach
Ryan Mason outlined how West Brom won the 'penalty box game' as they put in another impressive away performance and picked up a narrow win over leaders Stoke City.
Albion came into the game unbeaten in the league - and looked to end Stoke's perfect start to the campaign.
Nat Phillips poked Albion ahead on 15 minutes and the visitors had to soak up spells of pressure from the home side.
But aside from Divin Mubama hitting the post early in the second half, Josh Griffiths was hardly tested in the Albion goal.
Arguably Albion could have won by more as Jed Wallace and Aune Heggebo both had chances to extend the lead - but the one goal was enough as Albion made it three league win from four games, to temporarily move up to second.
Mason was pleased with a third win in four games - but it was more the manner of it for the Baggies boss as much as the result.
"I'm delighted with the win but more than that, the performance," said Mason.
"It was amazing, we understood the moment Stoke are in so to come here, stand up, show personality and real quality is super pleasing. We fully deserved to win and it has been a positive few weeks.
"I think in this league there is a level of competition and it is so tough, so you need to stand up and fight and we did. We showed great work rate, we were excellent.
"We had a couple of real chances within that where we could have put the game to bed and restricted them too.
"We kept a clean sheet which is not easy in this league and every time the ball came in our box, we showed personality and won it, and then scored from a set piece.
"We won the penalty box game."
Mason was forced into changes after the departures of Tom Fellows and Darnell Furlong - with Jed Wallace and Chris Mepham coming into the side.
For the latter it was a debut less than 48 hours after his £1m arrival from Bournemouth - and he put in a sparkling performance alongside goal scorer Nat Phillips at the heart of the defence.
And the Baggies boss believes the performances of his two central defenders was the platform for the victory.
He added: "Both are great ages for centre halves, they have incredible experience and they know each other from Bournemouth.
"Chris came in and did a small session yesterday and went straight in and you have to show real personality to do that.
"With Nat alongside him they gave us a real foundation to go and win the game, keep a clean sheet and I was so happy with what they showed today."
For Mason he was forced to watch the game from the stands after accepting a misconduct charge following his red card in the draw against Portsmouth.
Although he found it frustrating, the Albion coach added: "After two months to watch from up there and see the players perform like that, produce what they did and how the belief was brilliant.
"We need to work hard, we need to stay humble because of how tough this league is.
"But at the same time, we need to enjoy these moments when they come and today was a good moment."
