West Brom debrief: Away issues, defensive reasoning and possession struggles

Away concerns

The last three performances away from The Hawthorns, and four of the last five, have brought very little cheer for the travelling faithful.

Indeed, even the successful outlier in that sequence required a lot of fortune and a goalkeeping masterclass from Josh Griffiths, who was at fault late on down the road at Portman Road.

It is the opposite to the start of the Championship season, where Ryan Mason's side won at Wrexham and Stoke to banish last season's away blues.

The defeat at Middlesbrough in mid-September was poor but the hosts were flying at that point. The no-show at Millwall was a cause for concern and the second half of Watford and Suffolk showing has exacerbated it.

Home form is and always will be a priority, but a section of the travelling support aired their ire towards Mason at full-time at Ipswich and Albion will know when they next go away, to Charlton on Tuesday week, they must be much better.

Unashamedly defensive

No effort on target until into stoppage time is unacceptable for Albion in the Championship, against whichever side and in whatever context.

There was no attempt from Mason to say otherwise and he was clear to say the final third was extremely lacking.

But he did try to explain the set-up to primarily defend, and be "compact", was borne out of a demanding period in the scheduling of a kick-off 60 hours after Watford - something Mason has been angry at - and a lack of bodies with injuries biting a small squad.

The head coach has also added some players - Josh Maja, Karlan Grant and Daryl Dike among them - cannot play regularly yet due to returning from injury.

Ultimately it was the head coach's call and Albion were seven minutes or so from a decent point. The problem with playing in that manner is it will only be accepted if it yields the point.

Incomers struggling

There were individuals in Mason's side that really struggled to move their side forward into Ipswich's half.

Ousmane Diakite is a fourth-choice central midfielder being selected due to injury with Mason's hand forced in that regard. Diakite is a physical unit and excels in certain scenarios - late on to protect results, to clear lines aerially and to break up play with challenges.

He does not excel with the ball and it makes things a struggle in that department.

He is not alone. George Campbell, still out of position at right-back, defended well and was one of his side's better players but is another who struggles in possession from an attacking perspective.

Loanee Charlie Taylor was selected over Callum Styles, who is more forward-thinking with the ball. Taylor is more physical and was selected with defending in mind.

Hope for home comfort

After some away misery four of the next six games are at The Hawthorns either side of the international break.

An important win against Preston last time out eased some home nerves but crisis club Sheffield Wednesday and lowly Oxford are the next two visitors. Albion must make home advantage count there.

It leads into a midweek clash under the lights against Birmingham - and there will be no shortage of feeling in that one.