'It's why we are where we are' - Ryan Mason addresses West Brom consistency

It was hoped Mason's side could build on a previous victory against Swansea but Albion were undone by their own dreadful defending in west London. The Baggies have managed back-to-back league just once, in the first two games of the season, and are flailing down in 16th.

Albion face a stern few days against resurgent Championship big-hitters Southampton and Sheffield United on Friday.

"I said after the game against Swansea, you only build momentum by winning games of football," Mason said. 

"And we haven't been able to back up good results this season. I think the one we've done, I think we've only gone back to back once in the league and that was the first two games of the season."

Mason, in his first season as Baggies boss but under fire from supporters due to a lack of progress, sees his side's lowly position in the second tier as indicative of a lack of consistency. 

"We're almost 20 games into the season now, and to not be able to go back-to-back is - I think it's why we're where we are in the league," he added.

"Like I say, it's not something that we accept or anyone at the club should accept. The standards we're trying to set here at the moment, we're falling below that.

"We don't want to be behind and we don't like the situation we're in."

Five points separates the Baggies, in 16th, to the top six in the compact Championship reckoning, but Mason's side have won just twice in nine attempts.

Albion are eight points clear of the bottom three.