'I wouldn't be sitting here' - Angry Ryan Mason addresses pressure on West Brom role

Two second-half goals put the visitors in a position to claim an improbable point but Albion fell short with the heat and scrutiny further increased on beleaguered boss Mason, who cut a visibly angry yet defiant figure in his post-match press conference.

He maintained his belief he could turn around the fortunes at the club but added an understanding for what comes with unacceptable form.

Asked if he was the man to turn around 16th-placed Albion's poor form, Mason replied: "Yeah, I do. Otherwise, trust me, I wouldn't be sitting here.

"I believe. I probably believe in this group more than they believe in themselves at the minute. I have massive belief in the group, absolutely.

"I have massive belief in what we're doing. But of course, I understand football.

"I'm not stupid to lose the amount of games we have, period. But also to lose the away games we have, it's not good enough for this football club."

Albion owner and chairman Shilen Patel watched on from the directors' box during the 3-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road on Saturday.

Mason referenced an 'internal understanding' of the situation Albion are currently in, with suggestion towards the sale of key players during the summer transfer window.

Asked if Bilkul or Patel have reinforced their backing and support of Mason, he added:  "Yes, we speak a lot.

"Internally, we understand the situation, but I think the most important thing is to try and turn it around."

The Baggies were 3-0 down at half-time at St Mary's following an insipid first half in which failed former loanee Adam Armstrong scored twice, including his side's second from a woeful Nat Phillips error.

Albion rallied after the break and brought the scoreline back to 3-2 through Karlan Grant and Phillips and should have rescued a point but missed several late chances.

Mason was uninterested in taking any positives from the second period and instead said the improvement left him more angry.

"No, no, no, no, no, no difference," Mason said of his full-time feeling compared to half-time. "If anything, I'm more angry, I'm more angry, more frustrated with the second half than I was with the first.

"I mean, we've lost the game in the first half, absolutely. It's so disappointing. The nature of it as well, I think, is the most frustrating thing because I know what this group of players can do when there's belief and when there's a personality and we showed that in the second half.

"But at the moment that's irrelevant to me because we've lost and we lost the game in the first half and the way we lost the game in the first half is something that is difficult to accept.

"It's an individual mistake that can happen. I think a lack of belief is something that frustrates me more. So, yes, very angry."

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