Ryan Mason buoyed by energetic reaction showed by West Brom to beat Sheffield United
Ryan Mason was buoyed by the response his Albion side showed at the end of a challenging week to see off Sheffield United.
Two second-half goals saw the Baggies dispose of the in-form Blades with Aune Heggebo and Karlan Grant on target to ease pressure on boss Mason, who was coming under increased scrutiny due to woeful away results.
The Hawthorns hosts came through an uncomfortable opening 15 or 20 minutes in which the Blades could have struck an opener, but there was little else to write home about after the break.
Mason's side clicked through the gears in the second period, while United fell away leaving away boss Chris Wilder fuming. The Baggies could have scored more but were ultimately comfortable, something that left the head coach proud given the logistical demands of trips to QPR and Southampton, which have left his side empty-handed and licking their wounds.
"I think as a coach, whenever you win, there's relief, I think that's the first emotion," Mason said if just a third win in 11 games.
"You can enjoy the feeling because I thought we had good value in the second half. The first 20 minutes of the first half - I thought it was crucial we got through that period.
"They had a couple of counter-attacks. Joe (Wildsmith) pulled off a really good save and that made a really good tackle. You could feel a nervousness, you could feel a little bit of anxiety amongst the group. I think that's because they want it so much.
"Like I say, when you play that many games in six days with the travel that we've had to travel, you need to grow into the game. The pleasing thing was that we got through that period at 0-0.
"It wasn't necessarily great, but that doesn't matter because I think we showed in the second half that when we play like that and have spells in the games, we can cause the opposition problems, we can score goals, we can create opportunities.
"We did that and then again at the end of the match, we had to defend our box well. So I'm really pleased."
It was the first time under Mason that Albion have won by more than one goal, and just a second clean sheet in 13 attempts.
Stand-in keeper Joe Wildsmith kept a first clean sheet in his third game since deputising for Josh Griffiths between the sticks and Albion were stretched in midfield without injured vice-captain Alex Mowatt and loanee Toby Collyer.
"The players showed such a good reaction, they put so much energy into that game," added the head coach.
"This has been a tough week from a physical and travel point of view. The only team, once again, don't know why to go away from home Saturday, away from home midweek, and then have to play the Friday night game. From a physical point of view, I thought we were up against it.
"I think that's what makes this win so much more pleasing."
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