West Brom debrief: Styles the midfielder, Bielik blow, one-half Albion and Bilkul patience

More signs of a one-half team

A bright first-half performance ultimately proved worthless for Albion and Mason. It is not the first time that has been the case.

Indeed, it is a sense Deja vu with Albion's class of 2025/26 constantly failing to find any consistency. There have been decent first halves, decent second halves, but it has been so rare they have gone together.

Mason's side were not bad in the second period at the MKM Stadium, but more insipid. It was a low-key second period, the hosts did not do much more, but a substitute and tactical tweak from home boss Sergej Jakirovic at the interval stifled Albion, who could not respond.

Mason turned to Josh Maja, Jayson Molumby and Samuel Iling-Junior as his attack-minded changes but they were in vain. One-half performances will get Albion nowhere fast.

Styles fits role

Molumby (groin) was unfit to start in Hull and with Alex Mowatt (foot) and Toby Collyer (calf) out, Mason had to change something.

He switched Callum Styles from left-back into midfield - a role the Hungarian plays for his national team and had operated for previous club Barnsley.

Styles caught the eye and appeared to take his chance. Mason agreed afterwards that the 25-year-old did well, and his left-back deputy Charlie Taylor was capable enough too.

Many have been intrigued to see how Styles would fare in the middle of the park and this was a good showcase.

Albion's usual game plan, however, brings Styles into midfield and attacking positions from left-back, as Mason has highlighted, so a run of the Hungarian playing centrally feels unlikely.

Bielik blow

Albion have conceded dreadful goals on their travels of late but the introduction of summer signing Bielik has been a bright spark.

The sight of him hobbling off badly in first-half stoppage time, just prior to Hull's penalty winner, was a sore one.

It was clearly a heavy ankle problem from a poor Matt Crooks challenge. Bielik, who has suffered his share of injury issues over the years, could be set for a period on the sidelines.

It offered a chance for Chris Mepham to return to the fray after he had been benched. But with Nat Phillips' needless error for the Tigers' penalty, the centre-back concerns remain.

Bilkul patience

Mason will be at the helm for the Boxing Day and December 29 home clashes against Bristol City and QPR as owners Bilkul continue to show patience to the head coach they selected for a long-term plan.

Mason has referenced on several occasions in recent press conferences that he and the owners are on the same page when it comes to where Albion are in the context of 2025, having sold some key players - and clearly failed to suitably replace - due to financial recoveries.

That may be the case but both Mason and Shilen Patel, Andrew Nestor and co. will know 16th in the Championship and desperate away form is not good enough.

Home form has been good and the head coach has two games to put a better slant on things. The January transfer window is also around the corner and this squad has clear flaws in it, and it appears Mason will have the chance to turn things around in the new year with Nestor-led recruitment.