'Bizarre decisions and costly errors': Five things that cost Ryan Mason as West Brom boss axed after 27 games
It was the news no one was surprised by - as Ryan Mason was axed by West Brom on Tuesday morning.
The club's tenth straight away defeat was a cruel one - as the Baggies dominated Leicester but left the back door open at the end. It was a script the fans had become accustom to.
For Mason, it was the final nail in the coffin, as they relieved him of his duties on Tuesday morning.
It was a managerial spell that began so brightly with fans dreaming of the Premier League after their start to the campaign - but it ended in disaster.
Here are five things that went wrong for Mason during his time in The Hawthorns dugout:
Lack of goals
Three wins from four and Albion were flying. Two of those were by the odd goal though - and that was a sign of things to come.
When you're not conceding that is great - but when you start to and you're not scoring, then it is a recipe for disaster, and so it proved.
After Albion's early season form deserted them, the goals dried up. They were among some of the lowest scorers in Championship and the EFL.
It was only when Aune Heggebo started to kick into gear in recent months that things started to change - but Albion were still shipping goals.
In inability to score at key times was a big Achilles heel for Mason's Albion.
The Ipswich shut up shop
Prior to Ipswich a few were questioning whether Mason was the right man. But it was a minority.
However, his decision to go to an out of form Ipswich side and shut the shop from the first moment was one that didn't go down well with fans.
Albion were blunt, toothless - against an Ipswich side stacked full of quality but one that was on a rotten run.
The mistake at the death that threw away a point didn't help - but it was the first time there were smatterings of discontent in the away end from some fans over the manager.
The Coventry disaster
Like Albion's season, started so well and then turned into a nightmare.
Two up at the high flying leaders and your striker is in red hot form. Mason must have been thinking his Christmas' had all come at once.
But, a red card and a stupid one at that for Jayson Molumby was then followed by a Coventry turnaround.
It raised big questions over Mason, the character of his players and whether they were actually good enough. This was around the time many started to turn.
It showed, it was at a similar time when empty seats started popping up at the ground, and the regular boos began.
Bizarre goalkeeper situation
This was a massive own goal from Mason and one that he basically owned in as many words in his final press conference.
When he made the decision to bring back in Joe Wildsmith for Josh Griffiths - everyone was stunned. No doubt the players were.
Griffiths had made the odd mistake - but he had saved Albion far more points than he had conceded.
It looked a stupid decision - one that just did not need to be made. Wildsmith would prove to be a costly error for Mason.
Albion looked nervous, shakier for it. He made errors, cost goals - and in the end Mason lost his job. It wasn't this decision that cost it him - but it was needless, it didn't need to be made.
Chances and mistakes
The one bit of sympathy many Albion fans will have for Mason is the games Albion threw away, either with mistakes or goals.
Leicester on Monday, Charlton away, Leicester at home, Derby at home - but to name a few.
Whether it is mistakes like the big one at Ipswich or a glaring miss - Mason can't legislate for that.
Fans can argue that his tactics could play a part in mistakes - but these key moments in games are where players take responsibility.
That went against him - it was beyond his control, and in the end - they are probably the biggest things that have cost him his job.